If it’s not Sustainable, its Condition is Terminal.

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§ The most recent reported status of US nuclear power plants can be found at the US Nuclear Power Report, a distressingly dull account of NRC news, posted when the NRC gives us news to post. As of April 26, out of 94 US-licensed power reactors, 5 were at reduced output and 16 not operating.

§ Video – Energy Week #569 – 4/18/2024: Greenpeace says nuclear emergy is an obstacle to achieving net zero. Solar cells may soon become far, far more efficient. Electric cars are driving down electricity rates. The US has twice as much new capacity backlogged as it has capacity operating. Seven countries get 100% of their electricity from renewable sources. And there is more.

§ You can get a copy of the latest Green Energy Times, the February 2024 edition, by downloading the pdf file HERE.

April 26 Energy News

Opinion:

¶ “Electric Cars Are The Spawn Of The Devil, Ex-CIA Dude Tells Faux News” • If you are wondering where all the negativity about electric cars is coming from, you probably don’t spend every moment of the day filling your cranial cavity with detritus from Faux News. If you did, you would be treated to a constant barrage of stunningly stupid nonsense. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Explorer No 1, bringing cars from China (BYD image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Space Solar Power Is Happening Sooner Rather Than Later” • The futuristic idea of beaming solar power down to Earth from space has been getting closer to the here and now, despite a slew of financial and technological obstacles. California Institute of Technology put a space solar prototype into orbit last year. The technology is real. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Bboxx Wants To Scale Its Reach By Ten To Benefit 36 Million People By 2028” • Bboxx and its group of companies has over 4,000 staff across Africa and offices in the UK and Asia. Bboxx is active in energy access, electric mobility, clean cooking, smart financing, and is increasing people’s access to communication with smartphones. [CleanTechnica]

Bboxx image

¶ “Skypower Inks 1-GW Zambian Solar PPA” • SkyPower Global, based in Canada, and Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation announced that they signed a 1-GW PPA. The agreement is part of Zambia’s Integrated Renewable Energy Plan, designed to enhance the nation’s renewable energy capacity and to support sustainable growth, said Skypower. [reNews]

¶ “India’s New Solar Installations Hit 6.2 GW In March” • Rystad Energy figures show India’s monthly installations of renewable energy surged to a record 7.1 GW in March 2024. The previous record was 3.5 GW, set in March 2022. More than 6.2 GW of the March 2024 total was solar capacity. That is over 80% of the 7.5 GW installed in all of 2023. [pv magazine International]

Solar plant in Gugarat (Citizenmj, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Bowen Says Coalition’s Nuclear Plan Puts Grid Reliability At Risk Due To Delays In Coal Plant Closures” • The Australian Federal climate and energy minister lambasted the Coalition’s pursuit of nuclear power and its intention to stop renewables, saying it would put grid reliability at risk due to a delay in closing decrepit coal power stations. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “Body Targets Irish ‘Electrical Revolution’” • A new association, Ireland Electrified, was launched to accelerate the electrification of the country’s heating and transport sector, cutting its carbon emissions and strengthening energy security. The move comes nearly 80 years after the Rural Electrification Scheme turned Ireland into a modern economy. [reNews]

Transmission lines (Ireland Electrified image)

¶ “Battery Growth Outpaces All Other Clean Tech” • Growth in batteries outpaced almost all other clean energy technologies in 2023 as falling costs, advancing innovation, and supportive industrial policies helped drive up demand for energy storage. In 2023 alone, battery deployment in the power sector increased by more than 130% year-on-year. [reNews]

¶ “Renewable Energies Cover 56% Of Germany’s Q1 Electricity Consumption” • Renewable energies covered around 56% of electricity consumption in Germany in the first quarter of 2024, according to projections by the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg and the German Association of Energy and Water Industries. [Yahoo]

German wind turbines (Stephan Mosel, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “China’s Quiet Energy Revolution: The Switch From Nuclear To Renewable Energy” • China’s earlier goals for nuclear capacity additions have been moderated, with reductions of up to 40%. This may have been partly because targets have been missed. At the same time, goals for renewable capacity have been greatly increased. [RenewEconomy]

US:

¶ “Native American Tribes Want US Appeals Court To Weigh In On $10 Billion SunZia Energy Transmission Project” • Native American tribes want a US appeals court to weigh in on their request to halt construction on part of a $10 billion transmission line that will carry wind-generated electricity from New Mexico to customers as far away as California. [ABC News]

San Pedro Valley (Todd Morris, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “EPA Limits Four Types Of Power Plant Pollution With One Sweeping Rulemaking” • The Biden administration announced a series of new rules designed to cut pollution emitted from coal and natural gas-fired power plants having an impact on air, land, water, and climate. Power plants produce over a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions in the US. [ABC News]

¶ “How The Chinese-Made Volvo EX30 Will Deal With US Tariffs And Incentives” • The Volvo EX30 battery-electric midsize SUV goes on sale in the US this summer. Since Volvo is now a Chinese company, we might ask how it expects to sell the EX30 in the US and make a profit. Reuters has done a little digging, and what it uncovered is a bit of a surprise. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo EX30 (Rutger van der Maar, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Nearly $1 Billion In Grants To Invest In America’s Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Transition” • Competitive grants will be awarded by the EPA for projects that reduce climate and air pollution from heavy-duty vehicles, support good jobs, and improve air quality for communities, especially those burdened by air pollution. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “PG&E’s Electricity 100% Greenhouse Gas-Free, Utility Says” • One of the largest US utilities, PG&E is delivering electricity to its customers that is free of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2023, its electricity was 53% nuclear, 13% hydroelectric, and 34% solar, wind, and other renewable resources. GHG emissions reached record levels elsewhere. [Energy Digital Magazine]

Have a totally terrific day.

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April 25 Energy News

Opinion:

¶ “A Golden Age Of Renewables Is Beginning, And California Is Leading the Way” • California has had a record-breaking string of days in which the combined generation renewable sources has exceeded demand on the main electricity grid for anywhere from 15 minutes to 9.25 hours per day. The implications are spectacular. [Scientific American]

Solar PVs (Tom Brewster Photography, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine Has Left The Entire Region At A Heightened Risk Of Radioactive Pollution” • Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has put the country’s nuclear facilities at considerable risk. For example, a drone attacked Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Plant on April 7. Both Ukraine and Russia deny being behind the drone attack. [The Conversation]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Strict Rules Stop Green Hydrogen Production Diverting Clean Power From The Grid. What Are They?” • Green hydrogen must be made from green electricity. But its makers must ensure more than that. Renewable hydrogen is only produced when sufficient renewable energy is available, and is not diverting clean energy away from the grid. [Energy Post]

Solar array (Sungrow EMEA, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Climate Change Is Bringing Malaria To New Areas. In Africa, It Never Left” • Last year in the US, there were a small number of cases of locally transmitted malaria, and that was a reminder that climate change is reviving the threat of some diseases. But across the African continent malaria has never left, killing or sickening millions of people. [ABC News]

¶ “IAEA Team Inspects Treated Radioactive Water Release From Japan’s Fukushima Nuclear Plant” • A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency inspected the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant for a review of its discharge of treated radioactive wastewater into the Pacific. The IAEA team will issue a report later. [ABC News]

Ocean at Fukushima plant (IAEA Imagebank, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Honda EV Production Plan For Canada Comes Into Focus” • Honda will build batteries for EVs in Ontario with financial aid from the Canadian and provincial governments under a plan to be announced, a source with direct knowledge of the deal told Reuters. Canada matches or even exceeds financial incentives available in the US. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Iberdrola And Norges Bank Expand Spanish Renewables Platform” • Iberdrola has concluded negotiations with Norway’s sovereign wealth fund to add 644 MW of solar capacity in Spain to their Iberian clean energy alliance. Out of these additional projects, 328 MW will be in Extremadura (already in operation) and 316 MW will be in Castilla y Leon. [reNews]

Solar array (Iberdrola image)

¶ “JSW Energy Wins 700-MW Solar Project” • JSW Energy, a leading power company in India, has successfully secured a 700-MW solar project from NTPC, the largest power generation utility in the country. This achievement marks a significant milestone for JSW Energy as it continues to expand its renewable energy portfolio. [Construction World]

¶ “Denmark Allocates New Funding For Renewable Energy Infrastructure In Ukraine” • Ukraine and Denmark have signed an MOU on long-term cooperation and reconstruction for Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy. Russian missile and drone attacks have been targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. [Euromaidan Press]

Solar station in Pokrovsk (Photo from eenergy.com.ua)

¶ “DNV: China To More Than Quintuple Renewable Energy Installations By 2050, With Solar Capacity To Reach 5.5 TW” • Norwegian analyst DNV has published its latest outlook for China’s energy industry, which is headlined by the prediction that the country will more than quintuple its renewable energy installations by 2050. [PV Tech]

¶ “Share Of Electricity Generated By Fossil Fuels In Great Britain Drops To Record Low” • Fifteen years ago, gas and coal power made up 75% of the electricity mix, while renewables were only 2%. Last year only a third of Great Britain’s electricity came from fossil fuels, and 40% from renewables. There are times when over 90% is from renewables. [The Guardian]

UK wind farm (Trish Steel, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

US:

¶ “US DOE Reduces Regulatory Hurdles For Solar, Transmission, And Energy Storage Projects” • The US DOE is amending its list of categories of projects that qualify for the simplest form of environmental review because they typically do not have major impacts. Battery systems, transmission line upgrades, and solar PV systems are on the list. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Unveils Five-Year Offshore Leasing Plan” • US Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced a new five-year schedule of offshore wind leasing rounds, with up to 12 lease sales by 2028. Four lease sales in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific, and near US territories will take place this year, one each in 2025 and 2026, two in 2027, and four in 2028. [reNews]

Offshore wind turbine (Worldview Films image)

¶ “US Interior Department Finalizes Rule to Streamline And Modernize Offshore Renewable Energy Development” • The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement finalized updated regulations for renewable energy development on the US Outer Continental Shelf, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Holy Cross Approaches 90% Renewable Power In 2025” • Holy Cross Energy, a not-for-profit rural electric cooperative based in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, announced last week that it is on track to achieve a 90% renewable energy portfolio by the end of 2025, bringing it closer to its goal of distributing 100% renewable power by 2030. [Aspen Daily News]

Have an ecstatically happy day.

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April 24 Energy News

Opinion:

¶ “Why Germany Ditched Nuclear Before Coal, And Why It Won’t Go Back” • In the face of climate change, calls to expedite the transition away from fossil fuels, and an energy crisis brought about by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Berlin’s move to quit nuclear before carbon-intensive energy sources like coal drew significant criticism. [The Conversation]

Emsland nuclear plant (Tetzemann, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

Science and Technology:

¶ “What Is Regenerative Agriculture? Farmers And Experts Share The Keys To Biodiversity” • Farmers are stewards of everything from soil and the crops that pop out of it to the microbial region teeming with life underneath the surface, which together creates a biodiverse environment that enriches and renews the land for generations to come. [ABC News]

World:

¶ “CATL Claims Grid Battery Will Experience No Degradation In First Five Years” • CATL’s TENER is the first mass-producible energy storage system with zero degradation in the first five years of use. Featuring greater safety, five-year zero degradation, and a 6.25 MWh capacity, TENER will accelerate adoption of energy storage technologies. [CleanTechnica]

Battery (Courtesy of CATL)

¶ “IEA 2024 Global EV Outlook Sees Sunny Skies Ahead For Electric Transportation” • The International Energy Agency publishes an annual report that identifies and assesses recent developments in electric mobility across. The report notes that electric cars continue to make progress towards becoming a mass market product. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Mercedes-Benz Explores Pairing eSprinter Vans With E-Cargo Bikes For Last-Mile Deliveries” • A pilot program uses a special Mercedez-Benz eSprinter electric van as a mobile micro-depot to bring standardized container modules to transfer points. A container is off-loaded onto an ONO electric cargo bike which makes the last-mile deliveries. [CleanTechnica]

Delivery EVs (Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Vans)

¶ “Horizon Power To Trial EV-To-Grid Capability” • A landmark Western Australian trial will test two-way charging with EVs. Horizon Power is conducting the trial to test the capability of its management system to allow EVs to act as mobile energy storage solutions. It will be Western Australia’s first trial of the potential for vehicle-to-grid techology. [Energy Magazine]

¶ “Wasting Renewables: Where Is Europe In The Race For Clean Energy Transition?” • Europe is not yet on track with its energy transition goals, but it is best positioned to succeed in reaching them, according to French multinational energy management company Schneider Electric. It needs to increase its renewable capacity to phase out of fossil fuels. [Euronews.com]

Wind farm (Naturpuur, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “NSW To Open Bids For Access To First Two Renewable Zones” • Applications have opened for solar, wind, and battery projects to reserve a place in New South Wales’ biggest renewable energy zone, as part of a fast-track process aimed at boosting investor confidence and giving communities more visibility over projects proposed for their region. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “Queensland Passes Legislation To Deliver On Renewable Energy And Jobs” • The Queensland Government has passed the transformation of Queensland’s energy grid into law, which they have stated will create over 100,000 new jobs in manufacturing, renewable energy generation, power transmission, and industries of the future. [PACE Today]

Solar power in Queensland (Kgbo, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Solar, Wind, And Storage Co-Location: Electricity Cost Reduction” • A report by RenewableUK suggests that integrating energy storage projects with onshore wind and solar farms can reduce electricity system costs and enhance energy security. It stresses the potential benefits of co-locating battery storage with renewable energy sites in the UK. [Energy Live News]

US:

¶ “Universities And Colleges From NC And PA Unite On Huge Solar Power Project In … Kentucky?” • The coal-producing state of Kentucky ranks #43 in a list of states ordered by solar capacity. Now six colleges and three universities have united to use the force of a powerful financial tool, the power purchase agreement, to get things going. [CleanTechnica]

Solar power (Courtesy of NextEra via Davidson College)

¶ “Tesla Surprises Investors With A Tiny Y And A Tiny 3 As Soon As This Year!” • Many people thought Elon was going all in on robotaxis, but it appears the rest of the company convinced him once again that sales have stalled now and they need a vehicle that can sell for about $10,000 less than the Model 3 and Model Y ASAP to keep investors happy. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Alaska Groups Awarded $125 Million For Solar Projects” • Several Alaska organizations are set to share in $125 million in federal funding so low-income and disadvantaged communities can be powered by solar projects. Awards are going the Alaska Energy Authority and the Alaska Housing Finance Corp, and tribal solar projects. [Anchorage Daily News]

Solar powered cabin in Alaska (Steve Hillebrand, FWS)

¶ “Oregon Awarded Nearly $87 Million To Increase Adoption of Solar In Low-Income Communities” • The US EPA announced Oregon will receive $86.6 million with a Solar for All grant. The program puts solar power within reach of low-income and rural residents, disadvantaged communities, and those most impacted by climate change. [Oregon Public Broadcasting]

¶ “JFK Airport Parking Lot To Become Biggest Solar Array In New York” • Construction has begun on a solar array that is to cover 21 acres of Kennedy Airport’s long-term parking lot No 9. The array is to generate 12 MW when it’s completed in 2026. It includes about 7.5 MW of battery storage to keep power constant during peak demand periods. [Yahoo]

Have a favorably faultless day.

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April 23 Energy News

Opinion:

¶ “Can Aging US Nuclear Power Plants Withstand More Extreme Weather?” • To reach its climate goals, the Biden administration aims to extend the lives of US nuclear reactors. But a report finds regulators have not studied whether ever more extreme weather could threaten the safety or viability of power plants largely built in the 1970s and 1980s. [Yale E360]

St Lucie nuclear plant (BlackNose, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

World:

¶ “Kenya Power to Invest $2 Million Towards Promotion of Electric Mobility” • As a major stakeholder in the electricity sector, Kenya Power and Lighting Company Plc, Kenya’s electric utility company, has been at the forefront of promoting adoption of electric mobility in Kenya. Now it’s ramping up its activities in the electric mobility space. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Hello Europe, Ukraine Has The Green Hydrogen You’re Looking For” • EU nations have been throwing money at green hydrogen, seeking to cut natural gas imports from Russia, but the EU’s 2030 production goal is sliding out of reach. Ukraine has a solution, but it will work only if the Russian war machine is stopped in its tracks. [CleanTechnica]

Windpower in Ukraine (Courtesy of Razom we Stand)

¶ “Highest-Level Rainstorm Warning Issued In South China’s Guangdong” • Over 100,000 people have been evacuated due to heavy rain and fatal floods in southern China. The government issued its highest-level rainstorm warning for the affected area. Asia was the world’s most disaster-hit region from climate and weather hazards in 2023, the UN said. [Yahoo News UK]

¶ “Green Light For Scottish Solar-Storage Scheme” • Renewco Power and Locogen have secured planning permission for a solar and battery project in Fife, in Scotland. The Glenniston solar project, in Lochgelly, will have a capacity of 39 MW, with an investment of £50 million. It will include hedgerow restoration and wildflower meadow areas. [reNews]

Solar panels (Andres Siimon, Unsplash)

¶ “Electricity Prices Fall In Australia As Renewable Energy Grows” • Australia’s growing renewable energy is driving down electricity prices in much of the country despite severe weather conditions increasing energy demand. The Australian Energy Market Operator’s latest report found renewables accounted for 39% of the east coast power supply. [9 news com au]

¶ “China Faces Huge Energy Transition Challenge” • China is proving itself a global green energy leader, but it is expected to depend heavily on fossil fuels in 2050. DNV’s Energy Transition Outlook China says the country’s build out of renewable energy is unrivalled, but fossil fuels will still make up 40% of its energy mix in 2050. [reNews]

Work in a wind farm (DNV GL image)

¶ “High Interest Rates Are Challenging The Global Transition To Renewable Energy” • After a period of low interest rates from 2009 to 2022, central banks have sharply raised interest rates to fight inflation. The higher cost capital has profound implications for the energy and natural resource industries, said a report from Wood Mackenzie. [pv magazine USA]

¶ “Renewables To Thank For Weeks Of No Load-Shedding” • In the past three weeks there has been no load-shedding in South Africa. The good performance was due to deliberate plans by the government and utility Eskom to deal with power outages. The Energy Action Plan is starting to bear fruit, with the contribution of renewable energy projects. [ITWeb]

Wind farm in South Africa (NJR ZA, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

US:

¶ “An Off-The-Grid Community In New Mexico Offers Insight Into Sustainable Building” • ABC News Chief Meteorologist and Chief Climate Correspondent Ginger Zee along with her team, Dan Manzo and Lindsey Griswold, traveled to Taos to stay with the community and find out what everyone can be doing to live a bit more sustainably. [ABC News]

¶ “Earth Day 2024 Report Card” • Earth Day offers an annual opportunity for citizens, experts, and lawmakers to celebrate the planet, examine our impact on the changing environment and demand a push toward a sustainable future. To make a united step forward, awareness of the mounting climate crisis is vital, one scientist told ABC News. [ABC News]

Planet Earth (NOAA/NASA GOES Project)

¶ “Biden Unlocks $7 Billion Solar Investment On Earth Day” • On Earth Day 2024, President Joe Biden announced $7 billion in grants through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Solar for All grant competition. The competition is a key component of the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund of the Inflation Reduction Act. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “GM Energy Prepares To Bring V2H Technology To Homes In North America” • By 2026, most EVs from GM will have V2H capability. Until then the GMC Sierra EV Denali, Chevy Equinox and Blazer EVs, and Cadillac Lyriq will have to wait for over-air software updates or even manual updates at a dealership to be able to share power with a home. [CleanTechnica]

Providing power to a home (Courtesy of GM)

¶ “$140 Million to Address Legacy Pollution, Revitalize Coal Communities in West Virginia” • Over $140 million in funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda will address dangerous and polluting abandoned mine lands, create good jobs that can sustain families, and promote economic opportunity in coal communities in West Virginia. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Long Beach Airport Celebrates Earth Day With Unveiling Of Solar Panel Canopies” • This Earth Day, the Long Beach Airport unveiled its solar panel canopies. Long Beach Airport said they will generate enough electricity to meet 70% of the needs for its facilities and airfield. The project is just one of eleven solar panel installations in Long Beach. [ABC7 Los Angeles]

Have an increasingly wonderful day.

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April 22 Energy News

Opinion:

¶ “Battery EVs That International Automakers Sell In China, But Don’t Want To Offer You” • If you ever suspected that there are BEVs that international automakers sell in China but don’t want to offer to those of us in other markets, well … you were right. Not only is the Chinese auto market by far the world’s largest, it also has the most advanced EVs. [CleanTechnica]

Buick Electra E4 (GM image)

World:

¶ “Europe Is The Fastest-Warming Continent, At Nearly Twice The Average Global Rate” • Europe is the fastest-warming continent and its temperatures are rising at roughly twice the global average, two top organizations monitoring the climate said in a report. They warned of consequences for human health, glacier melt, and economic activity. [ABC News]

¶ “Seven New High-Tech And Elegant Electric Cars Launching In China This Week” • The 2024 Auto China motor show is under way in Beijing. It is a massive EV market, so a number of them are being launched at the show. In fact, it is reported that at least twenty EVs being launched! Here are some of the most stunning, beautiful, and high-tech. [CleanTechnica]

Honda EVs for China (Honda image)

¶ “Foxconn Commits To Achieve 100% Renewable Energy By 2040: Greenpeace Response” • When Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) committed to achieve 100% renewable energy across its own operations by 2040, Greenpeace responded, “Unfortunately, a 2040 target does not reflect the urgency of the climate crisis.” [Greenpeace]

¶ “Europe’s First Commercial-Scale Floating Offshore Wind Farm Secures All Planning Approvals” • With onshore consent, Green Volt has all its planning approvals and remains on track to be Europe’s first floating offshore wind farm. Green Volt will include up to 35 floating wind turbines, providing up to 560 MW of capacity. [Offshore Wind]

Floating turbines (Green Volt Floating Offshore WindFarm)

¶ “Renera Energy Romania Announces The Development Of A 37-Hectare Floating PV Project” • Renera Energy Romania has announced the launch of the development phase for the largest floating photovoltaic project in Romania. The power plant will have an estimated capacity of 50 MW on 37 hectares of water in Brăila County. [Romania Insider]

Australia:

¶ “Australia Targets 6 GW Of New Renewables In ‘Largest Ever’ Tender” • The Australian government said a new national Capacity Investment Scheme tender process will open in May seeking 6 GW of new variable renewable energy projects to replace aging coal power generation in the National Electricity Market. [pv magazine International]

Solar farm (EnergyCo image)

¶ “Over A Million Homes To Get Renewable Energy In Deal Between Federal And State Governments” • A million homes in New South Wales could be powered by renewable energy and more electricity could flow to South Australia and Western Australia, under a deal struck between the federal and state governments. [SBS Australia]

¶ “Largest Floating Solar Array In Australia Switched On” • The 350-kW system at Gippsland Water has 644 solar panels and floats on a treatment lagoon at the Drouin wastewater treatment plant. Gippsland Water said it is the largest floating solar array in Australia, and the solar panels result from the its commitment to renewable energy. [Energy Magazine]

Floating solar array (Courtesy of Gippsland Water)

¶ “Dutton Kicks His Own Nuclear Policy Can Down The Road, Amid Reports Of Split In Coalition” • Coalition leader Peter Dutton delayed the release of a proposed nuclear power policy, ostensibly because of the Sydney stabbing events and the release of the government’s defence policy. It seems likely to be because Coalition MPs see it makes no sense. [RenewEconomy]

US:

¶ “Climate Advocates Want To Solve Their ‘Biggest Problem’ In The US: Turning Out Voters” • During a recent effort to turn out voters who care about climate change, a biology professor told ABC News she used to lobby lawmakers directly to take action on climate change, but they told her voters don’t care about it. Now she’s trying to prove them wrong. [ABC News]

Climate activism (Tania Malréchauffé, Unsplash)

¶ “Corporations Struggle On Climate Goals Amid Backlash Over ‘Woke Capitalism,’ Experts Say” • Corporate America took notice four years ago when the CEO of BlackRock declared climate change a top concern. “Climate risk is investment risk,” he wrote. Since then the climate has been demoted because of backlash against ‘woke,’ capitalism. [ABC News]

¶ “Study Unlocks Opportunities To Bridge The US Wind Energy Workforce Gap” • US land-based and offshore wind energy markets are expected to grow significantly over the next few decades. With this growth, the demand for properly trained wind energy workers will also increase to meet national deployment targets for wind energy. [CleanTechnica]

Studying wind energy (Werner Slocum, NREL)

¶ “Hyundai Motor Signs 174-MW Renewable Energy Deal For EV Plant In US” • Hyundai Motor Group said it has signed a 174-MW power purchase agreement with a solar energy project led by Spain’s Matrix Renewables to power an EV plant in the US with renewable energy. The Hyundai plant is under construction in Georgia already. [MSN]

¶ “Data Centers Want Clean Electricity. Can Georgia Power Deliver It?” • Georgia Power has won regulatory approval to fast-track building 1.4 GW of fossil-fueled power plants and contract for nearly 1 GW more from fossil-fired power plants owned by other utilities. It is driven by expected demand from data centers to be built in Georgia. [Canary Media]

Have an unexpectedly beautiful day.

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(, CC-BY-SA 3.0) km² CO₂ NH₃ CH₄ ₹ NOₓ ‽ ¦ – ¦♦♦♦♦♦

April 21 Energy News

World:

¶ “Adani Building World’s Largest Hybrid Solar And Wind Park In India – 30 GW!” • The hybrid wind and solar project is being built by Adani Green Energy, a division of Adani Group. The solar panels in the Adani hybrid energy park are expected to generate 26 GW of electricity, while the wind turbines will add another 4 GW. [CleanTechnica]

Adani hybrid energy park (Adani Green Energy image)

¶ “Global Heating Will Cost The World Economy $38 Trillion Each Year!” • At the CERAWeek annual celebration of fossil fuels, attendees cheered spectacular future profits. But the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research published a study showing global heating will suck $38 trillion out of the global economy each year by mid-century. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Spiro Brings Its Electric Motorcycle Ecosystem To Nigeria” • Spiro has the largest fleet of electric motorcycles in Africa. Spiro now has over 13,000 electric motorbikes and 40,000 swappable batteries in operation across Benin, Togo, Rwanda, and Kenya. Spiro says, to date, riders have collectively driven almost quarter of a billion kilometers. [CleanTechnica]

Spiro e-bike (Spiro image)

¶ “China Needs To Align Investments With Africa’s Energy Transition Goals: Study” • China should now focus its economic work with Africa towards supporting Africa’s energy access and energy transition objectives, says a study by Boston University’s Global Development Policy Centre and the African Economic Research Consortium. [The Independent Uganda]

¶ “Queensland Looks To Cut Emissions By 75% In A Decade In Rare Show Of Bipartisanship” • Queensland is looking to harness its power as the Sunshine State for something more than the skin cancer capital of the world. Cutting emissions by 75% by 2035 and a renewable energy target of 80% by 2035 have been enshrined in law in a bipartisan vote. [ABC]

Queensland wind farm (Queensland government image)

¶ “Russians Seize Chernobyl Nuclear Plant Amid Warnings Over Spread Of Radioactive Waste” • Russians seized control of the Chernobyl nuclear exclusion zone after an intense fight. An adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office said, “It is impossible to say the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe after a totally pointless attack by the Russians.” [Yahoo News UK]

US:

¶ “Data Centers Fuel AI And Crypto But Could Threaten Climate, Experts Say” • Artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency take a lot of power. At complexes, which typically span 100,000 square feet, the increased energy usage could jeopardize the fight to reduce carbon emissions and address climate change, experts told ABC News. [ABC News]

Data center (imgix, Unsplash)

¶ “Tesla Cuts US Prices For Three Of Its Electric Vehicle Models After A Difficult Week” • Tesla knocked $2,000 off the prices of three of its five models in the US. Prices of the Model Y, Tesla’s most popular model and the top-selling EV in the US, and also of the Models X and S, more expensive models. Cybertruck and Model 3 prices remained unchanged. [ABC News]

¶ “Tesla Model Y Cheaper Than Ever In USA” • A week ago, the Tesla Model Y had a base price below the average selling price of a new car in the US. In fact, taking the US EV tax credit into account, the Model Y was essentially $10,000 cheaper than the average selling price of a new car in the US, which is $47,244. Now the Model Y is even cheaper. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model Y

¶ “Google Maps Now Offers EV Charger Locations” • If you drive an EV that’s not a Tesla, then you may have felt the tension that comes with going on a trip and wondering whether your route has a charger on it. But Google Maps seems to be listening, and it is introducing upgrades to offer EV drivers information about where EV chargers are. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “’Uncharted Territory’: El Niño To Flip To La Niña In What Could Be The Hottest Year On Record” • El Niño is likely to give way soon, a NOAA scientist said. For the US, this climatological flip-flop will likely mean a greater risk of major hurricanes in the Atlantic as well as areas of drier-than-usual weather in southern portions of the country. [Live Science]

El Niño temperature anomalies (NOAA, public domain)

¶ “Wind Farms Require Far Less Land Than Previously Believed” • Decision-makers have hesitated to embrace wind farms, partly because of a belief that the wind farms require vast tracts of land. However, a remarkable study conducted by researchers at McGill University reveals that this belief may be based on outdated and inaccurate information. [Earth.com]

¶ “How Texas Unleashed A Geothermal Boom” • With its nation-leading renewables fleet and oil and gas industry, Texas is poised to dominate what boosters hope will be America’s next great energy boom: a push to tap geothermal heat for electricity and industry. Geothermal energy demonstrates a rare ability to unite the state’s warring political camps. [The Hill]

Have a comfortably cheerful day.

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April 20 Energy News

World:

¶ “Volkswagen Gets Critical Tech Boost In China From Xpeng” • Volkswagen makes quality cars at scale. But it could use a hand getting on the cutting edge for driving technology. That’s where Xpeng steps in. Xpeng, as a “smart vehicle” startup, is one of the best in the world at integrating high-quality tech and software into its vehicles. [CleanTechnica]

New China Electrical Architecture (VolksWagen image)

¶ “Volkswagen Planning 30 Fully Electric Models For China By 2030” • Volkswagen Group set out several years ago to be a leader in the transition to EVs. China is the epicenter of the global EV revolution, with 60% of the world’s plugin vehicle sales taking place in China in 2023. It should be no surprise that Volkswagen has big plans for China. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Eversource Finalises Sunrise Wind Exit” • Eversource Energy has finalised definitive documents regarding its previously announced agreement to sell its 50% ownership stake in the 924-MW Sunrise Wind scheme to Ørsted. Eversource will remain contracted to lead the onshore construction of the project following the closing. [reNews]

Wind turbine (Ørsted image)

¶ “Central Queensland’s New Windfarm To Energize 240,000 Homes” • The Albanese Government has approved a new wind farm in Central Queensland which will generate enough energy to power 240,000 Queensland homes. The 400-MW Mount Hopeful Wind Farm, 65 km west of Gladstone, is to consist of 63 wind turbines. [Mirage News]

¶ “Mexican Presidential Frontrunner Would Focus On Water And Renewable Energy” • Mexican presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum said that if she is elected, her administration would focus on water management and renewable energy as part of a plan to boost the country’s sustainability. She is strongly favored to win the June elections. [Yahoo News Canada]

Claudia Sheinbaum (Claudia Shein, public domain)

¶ “Global Utility Alliance Calls For Tripling Renewable Energy Capacity” • The Utilities for Net Zero Alliance was formed at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai last year. It said it wants to increase its green energy capacity to at least 749 GW by the end of this decade. That is nearly tripple their renewable energy generation capacity. [POWER Magazine]

¶ “Statkraft Signs 150 MW Of German PPAs” • Statkraft and Alterric, Germany’s largest onshore green power producer, have concluded several long-term power purchase agreements with terms of two to five years. Statkraft will purchase 330 GWh of green electricity annually from eleven wind farms with a total capacity of almost 150 MW. [reNews]

Wind farm (Waldemar, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Tesla Recalling More Than 3,000 Of Its 2024 Cybertrucks Due To Faulty Pedal” • Tesla is recalling 3,878 of its 2024 Cybertrucks after it found that the accelerator pedal can get stuck, potentially causing the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally and increase the risk of a crash. The accelerator pedal pad may dislodge and get trapped by the interior trim. [ABC News]

¶ “GM Picks Up The Electric Pickup Truck Torch Dropped By Cybertruck” • When you have a powerful electric pickup truck, do you really need to shell out for a home energy storage system as well? The launch began earlier this week with a focus on the new Chevy Silverado electric pickup truck and its bi-directional charging capability. [CleanTechnica]

Chevy Silverado EV (Courtesy of GM)

¶ “Nearly 200 Clean Energy Companies Urge Congress To Pass Siting, Permitting, And Transmission Reform Before The 2024 Election” • Nearly 200 solar and storage companies sent a letter to congressional leaders calling for legislation to improve project siting, permitting, transmission, and access to public lands for solar and solar plus storage projects. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “RTX Partners With ENGIE For Renewable Electricity In Texas Facilities” • RTX has announced an agreement with ENGIE North America to power 12 of RTX’s facilities in Texas with 100% renewable electricity. This deal is RTX’s largest renewable energy procurement to date, nearly doubling the company’s use of renewable electricity. [GreentechLead]

Texas wind farm (Carol M Highsmith, public domain)

¶ “New York Cancels Three Offshore Wind Projects” • Provisional contracts for three New York Bight wind projects were cancelled, after it became impossible for developers to move forward, New York State energy planners announced. The cancellations are tied to General Electric’s decision not to proceed with building 18-MW turbines. [WorkBoat]

¶ “Biden-Harris Administration Takes Action To Secure Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain” • Over the past several years, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken critical steps both to establish an advanced nuclear fuel supply chain in the US. Currently, Russia supplies 20–30% of enriched uranium product used in the US and Europe. [US DOE]

Have a positively practical day.

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April 19 Energy News

Opinion:

¶ “FERC Can Speed The Switch To Clean Energy With The Right Transmission Planning Rule” • After decades of neglect, the US is struggling to integrate hundreds of billions of dollars worth of new wind, solar, and batteries into its power grid. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is planning for the build-out of extensive new transmission infrastructure. [NDRC]

Wind turbines (Finn Mund, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Honda Launches Three New Electric Cars … In China, For China” • Honda has not been interested in selling EVs and has hardly introduced any. However, if you want to sell cars in China, the largest car market in the world (by far), then you’ve really got to be selling electric cars now. Last year, 25% of new car sales in China were 100% battery EVs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “USA Pulls Mexico Into Its Anti-Chinese EVs Policies” • Despite being late to the party, with many still trying to prevent or slow adoption, the US is trying to block Chinese electric cars from being imported and taking legacy car makers’ market share. Now Reuters says that Mexico is blocking Chinese EV production there because of pressure from the US. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Seagull production (Courtesy of BYD)

¶ “Indus Towers Partners With NTPC To Develop Renewable Energy Projects For Business Operations” • Telecom company Indus Towers Ltd signed a memorandum of understanding with NTPC Green Energy Ltd for the joint development of renewable energy projects to power its business operations spread across India. [pv magazine India]

¶ “EIB Lends €150 Million For Renewables In Bhutan” • The European Investment Bank agreed to lend €150 million ($160.2 million) for renewables in Bhutan, to fund solar power along with small to mid-size run-of-river hydropower plants, especially in remote regions. Bhutan is one of only three net carbon-negative countries in the world. [pv magazine International]

Thimphu, Bhutan (Pema Gyamtsho, Unsplash)

¶ “JERA and ReNew Collaborate On 500-MW Renewable Energy Initiative In Odisha For Green Ammonia Production” • JERA Co, Inc has entered into a strategic partnership with ReNew E-Fuels Private Ltd, a branch of the renewable energy company ReNew Energy Global PLC, on a pioneering green ammonia production project in India. [SolarQuarter]

¶ “Queensland Locks 80% Renewable Energy By 2035 Target Into Law” • The Queensland government has passed laws locking in 80% renewable energy generation by 2035, a move it expects will create more than 100,000 new jobs in manufacturing, renewable energy generation, power transmission and industries of the future. [pv magazine Australia]

Skyline of Gold Coast (City of Gold Coast, Unsplash)

¶ “Rooftop Solar Now Fourth Largest Source of Electricity in Australia” • Rooftop solar now accounts for 11.2% of Australia’s electricity supply. That’s according to the latest Rooftop Solar and Storage Report of Australia’s Clean Energy Council, an association that represents the country’s renewable energy and energy storage businesses. [Rigzone]

¶ “Drone Strike Hits Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Again, IAEA Denied In Site Access: Grossi” • The International Atomic Energy Agency reported an attack by a drone on a training center at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. This is the third attack on the training center in the last two weeks. An earlier attack had damaged structures of a reactor. [Euromaidan Press]

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (Energoatom)

¶ “Japan Starts Fifth Ocean Discharge Of Fukushima Nuclear-Tainted Water Despite Opposition” • Despite opposition among local fishermen and residents, as well as backlash from the international community, TEPCO, the plant’s operator, started discharging the radioactive wastewater on April 19, the first round in fiscal 2024. [China Daily]

US:

¶ “ER Visits For Heat Illness Rose In 2023 Amid Record-Breaking Temperatures: CDC” • Heat-related ER visits increased in 2023 in the US compared to previous years. Between January 1 and December 31, 2023, there were 119,605 ER visits for heat-related illnesses, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [ABC News]

Thirsty girl (Piotr Chrobot, Unsplash)

¶ “Save Thousands Of Dollars A Year Driving An Electric Car” • The US DOE has a new tool that enables drivers to calculate how much they can save on fuel costs by driving a fully electric or plug-in hybrid. Drivers can enter their ZIP code or state, along with other information. The tool then generates estimates of how much they can save. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Hydropower Generation Expected to Increase by 6% in 2024 Following Last Year’s Lows” • Last year, US hydropower electricity generation fell to its lowest since 2001. This year, the DOE expects hydropower to increase 6% and account for 250 billion kWh of electricity generation, its Short-Term Energy Outlook says. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it. (EIA image)

¶ “Historic $8.8 Billion Home Energy Rebate Programs to Lower Utility Bills” • The US DOE announced approval of New York’s funding application for the Inflation Reduction Act’s Home Energy Rebates. It awarded the state an initial $158 million to implement its rebate program to help families save money on efficient electric appliances. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Nuclear Regulator Promises Thorough Safety Review For Palisades Restart” • The Federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission assured residents from southwest Michigan that the Palisades nuclear plant will not restart unless it meets all safety standards. The US DOE is loaning Holtec, the owner of the shuttered plant, $1.5 billion to help fund a restart. [The Detroit News]

Have an unvaryingly fabulous day.

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April 18 Energy News

World:

¶ “Study Calculates Climate Change’s Economic Bite Will Hit About $38 Trillion A Year By 2049” • Climate change will reduce future global income by about 19% in the next 25 years compared to a fictional world that’s not warming, with the poorest areas and those least responsible for heating the atmosphere taking the biggest monetary hit, a study said. [ABC News]

People of a poor area (Joshua Watson, Unsplash)

¶ “The Sun Shines In South America: Colombia And Brazil Give Large Boost To Solar Deployment” • Just as with EV adoption, solar deployment varies a lot in South America. Some countries have just started deploying it, while others have made it central to their systems for nearly a decade. Most are advancing rapidly towards its massive deployment. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Nissan Teases All Solid-State EV Battery For Itself, Renault, And Mitsubishi Motors” • Nissan hasn’t saying what goes into the solid state battery it is developing, but did give some details. It listed a reduction in charging time “to one-third,” while bringing the cost of battery packs down to $75.00/kWh by 2028, with the ultimate goal of $65.00. [CleanTechnica]

Nissan Formula E racer for 2028 (Nissan image)

¶ “Renewable Energy’s Share In Rwanda Reaches 52%” • Rwanda has made notable progress in providing electricity to its people with 76% of them having access to it. The country is increasingly relying on renewable energy sources for power generation. The installed capacity for renewables has reached 52%, the Minister of Infrastructure announced. [The New Times]

¶ “Fred Olsen Renewables Files Plans For Scottish Hybrid” • Fred Olsen Renewables submitted proposals for a 100-MW hybrid renewable energy project to the Scottish Government. Lees Hill Renewable Energy Park would consist of wind, solar, and battery storage in the Scottish Borders. The developer offered over £7 million in community benefit funding. [reNews]

Renewable energy hybrid (Fred Olsen Renewables image)

¶ “Southern Railway Seeks Bids For 1.2 MW Of Rooftop Solar In Chennai” • The Southern Railway announced an invitation for bids regarding the installation of 1.2 MW rooftop solar projects at locations in Perambur, Chennai, under the renewable energy service company model. The project is part of Indian Railways’ renewable energy strategy. [Construction World]

¶ “European Energy Turns Sod On Swedish Solar” • European Energy started construction of a solar farm project in Sweden, which will form part of a hybrid renewable energy park. The hybrid park will have an existing wind farm supplemented by a solar farm. The hybrid plant will be able to produce 163 GWh of green electricity per year. [reNews]

Hybrid energy park (European Energy image)

¶ “Zelenskyy Says Russia Destroyed Almost All Thermal Power Generation In Ukraine, Attacks On Its Nuclear Power Plants Possible” • Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy officially confirmed that the the Russian Federation destroyed almost all of Ukraine’s thermal energy. Still, it will not stop there and may strike at the nuclear power plant. [Online.ua]

¶ “Indigenous Peoples ‘Seek Energy Transition Rights’” • In a published statement, 87 indigenous peoples’ representatives from 35 countries in all regions set out demands for respect for indigenous peoples’ rights, social equity, inclusivity, cultural integrity, full and effective participation, and shared prosperity in the shift to renewable energy. [reNews]

Wind farm (Vestas image)

US:

¶ “Biden Administration To End Sanctions Waiver On Oil from Venezuela” • Since Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro clearly does not intend to hold free and fair elections, the US Treasury Department announced it will let temporary licenses to import oil and gas from the country expire. Maduro made a bargain, but he did not uphold it. [ABC News]

¶ “Alaska’s Wind, Wave, Tidal Resources Could Help State Meet Future Energy Needs” • A 131-page report by 11 researchers in eight different areas, recommends the Alaska office of BOEM assess the potential for ocean energy. Alaska’s Outer Continental Shelf holds the potential to generate 3,800 GW of electricity from wind, wave, and tidal resources. [NREL]

Possible site for ocean energy (Levi Kilcher, NREL)

¶ “US DOE Releases First Roadmap to Accelerate Connecting More Clean Energy Projects to the Nation’s Electric Grid” • The US DOE released a new roadmap outlining solutions to speed up the interconnection of clean energy onto the US transmission grid and clear the existing backlog of solar, wind, and battery projects seeking to be built. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ford Lowers F-150 Lightning Flash To Below $70,000, Reveals Other 2024 Changes” • Ford announced that orders are open for 2024 F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks. Normally, there’s not much news when an automaker has a new model year, but Ford has impressively low prices for the F-150 Lightning Flash, a tech-focused variant. [CleanTechnica]

Ford F-150 Lightning Flash (Ford iamge)

¶ “US DOE Releases New Report Outlining Solutions to Meet Growing Electricity Demand” • The US DOE outlined a wide array of solutions to address increased electricity demand while reducing emissions. The Future of Resource Adequacy report affirms that clean technology solutions can provide ample, reliable and secure power. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Federal Judge Denies A Request By Two Arizona Tribes To Block Work On SunZia Power Line” • A federal judge denied two Arizona tribes’ request for an injunction to halt construction on the SunZia power transmission line through the San Pedro River Valley. SunZia is to carry renewable energy from New Mexico, through Arizona, to California. [The Arizona Republic]

Have an inconceivably contented day.

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April 17 Energy News

Science and Technology:

¶ “This Boat Runs On 100% Renewables. Can It Help Clean Up Bigger Ships?” • The Energy Observer has sailed the world as a floating lab of zero-emission technologies. Now its owners want to apply what they’ve learned to dirty freighters. The boat’s fossil-free generators and storage can provide all the energy it needs for weeks on end. [Canary Media]

Energy Observer in 2017 (Margauux P, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

World:

¶ “Record Oil Imports Into China In 2023” • “China, the world’s largest importer of crude oil, imported 11.3 million barrels per day of crude oil in 2023, 10% more than in 2022, according to China customs data,” the US EIA said. Refiners in China imported record amounts of crude oil in 2023 to supply the transportation and petrochemical industries. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Dubai Sees Severe Flooding After Getting Two Years’ Worth Of Rain In 24 Hours” • Dubai was hit with severe flooding after 6.26 inches of rain fell in just 24 hours. Dubai receives 3.12 inches of rain per year on average, and typically just 0.13 inches of rain during the month of April. Climate change is making weather worse, scientists say. [ABC News]

Dubai (Nathan John, Unsplash)

¶ “Italy’s Edison Officially Opens 41-MW Solar Park In Sicily” • Italian energy supplier Edison SpA has opened a 41-MW solar PV park in Sicily, pressing ahead its strategy to grow its renewable energy fleet. A company goal is to add around 1 GW of wind and 2 GW of solar, along with 1 GW of renewables to produce green hydrogen and energy storage. [Renewables Now]

¶ “Ecuador Rations Electricity As Drought Persists In Northern Andes” • Ecuador began to ration electricity in its main cities as a drought linked to El Niño depletes reservoirs and limits output at hydroelectric plants. A climate change professor at Bogotá’s Javeriana University said it was a mistake to rely so heavily on hydroelectric power. [ABC News]

Mountains in Ecuador (Camilo Fierro, Unsplash)

¶ “CUC: Solar Power Only Way To Reduce Fuel Factor Costs” • The Caribbean Utilities Company says large solar projects are the only way to reduce expensive fuel factor costs facing Cayman’s growing population, and it hopes to reduce them by 50% in the next six years. It is “committed to the pursuit of achieving a 60% reduction in emissions by 2030.” [Cayman Compass]

¶ “GreenGo Cleared To Build 49.5-MW Battery In Italy” • Italian renewable energy developer GreenGo Srl said it has secured the green light to install a 49.5-MW battery energy storage system in the Calabria region of southern Italy. The Environment Ministry granted the authorisation around seventeen months after the application was filed. [Renewables Now]

Battery system (GreenGo Energy Group image)

¶ “Tepco Suspends Loading Nuclear Fuel At Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Plant” • TEPCO is suspending nuclear fuel loading for a reactor at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa power station. Work was suspended after the company found an equipment problem while loading fuel into the 1,356-MW reactor No 7. There are no safety-related issues, the company said. [The Japan News]

¶ “Seven Countries Generate 100% Of Their Electricity From Renewable Energy” • Seven countries generate nearly all of their electricity from renewable energy, data shows. Albania, Bhutan, Nepal, Paraguay, Iceland, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo produced over 99.7% of their electricity using solar, wind, hydro or geothermal power. [MSN]

Punakha, Bhutan (Nihar Modi, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “US DOE Report Highlights Ways To Address Significant Wind Energy Workforce Gap” • A report from the US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory finds that while there is likely to be a significant shortage of wind energy workers in the coming decades, impactful opportunities exist to close the wind energy workforce gap. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Safest Truck In The USA Is The Rivian R1T” • EVs have innate safety advantages. It’s also easier to design them to be safe in multiple ways. CleanTechnica has a new report on the subject: The EV Safety Advantage. Apparently, it already needs updating, because the Rivian R1T just set a new high bar for safety among pickup trucks. [CleanTechnica]

Rivian R1T (Rivian image)

¶ “US DOE Commercial Heat Pump Initiative Brings Together Multiple Partners” • The US DOE is bringing together businesses and manufacturers to promote development of advanced heat pump technology for commercial buildings. The Commercial Building Heat Pump Accelerator is part of the DOE’s Better Buildings, Better Plants initiative. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Governor Josh Green Outlines Diverse Energy Strategies For Hawaii’s Renewable Goals” • Governor Josh Green has outlined alternate energy ideas to help the state reach its energy goal: Using 100% renewable energy by 2045. While Hawaii leads the nation in renewable energy, there is more the state can do to become more energy efficient. [KITV]

Hawaii (Christian Joudrey, Unsplash)

¶ “US Attracts Europe’s Beleaguered Solar Companies” • The US Solar Energy Industries Association says the Inflation Reduction Act will drive 160 GW of extra solar capacity over the next ten years and lead to over $565 billion in new investments. But the IRA is also having one unintended effect, attracting struggling European solar firms to the US. [OilPrice.com]

¶ “Nova Acquires 1-GW Texas Wind-Solar-PtX Project” • Nova Clean Energy has acquired a 1-GW wind-solar and power-to-X project on the Texas Gulf coast. The HyFuels project consists of mid-to-late-stage wind and solar development projects as well as an earlier stage green ammonia project. Nova acquired HyFuels from BNB Renewable Energy. [reNews]

Have an invigoratingly nifty day.

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April 16 Energy News

World:

¶ “Fourth Global Coral Reef Bleaching Event Underway As Oceans Continue To Warm: NOAA” • As the world’s oceans experience unprecedented warming, significant coral bleaching has been reported across the globe, experts say. NOAA reported the fourth global bleaching event on record and the second in the last ten years. [ABC News]

Bleached coral (Nico Smit, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Operator Of Japan’s Wrecked Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant Prepares To Restart Another Plant” • TEPCO said it has obtained permission from safety regulators to start loading atomic fuel into a reactor at its only operable plant in north-central Japan. It is keen to restart the plant for the first time since the 2011 disaster. [ABC News]

¶ “Cotierra’s Biochar Tech Aims to Enrich Colombia’s Coffee Industry” • Cotierra, a Swiss-Colombian carbon removal and AgTech startup received $1 million in pre-seed funding from a consortium of climate-focused investors. It will support biochar reactor technology development and Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification in Colombia. [CleanTechnica]

Coffee beans (Rodrigo Flores, Unsplash)

¶ “Climeworks Wins Funding For Direct Air Capture & Storage In Norway” • Climeworks, which installed the world’s first and largest Direct Air Capture and Storage plant in Iceland, received €2.3 million from Enova, a state enterprise owned by Norway’s Ministry of Climate and Environment. The funding is for a feasibility study in Norway. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Global Wind Installations In 2023 Set New Record” • The global wind industry installed a record 117 GW of new capacity in 2023, making it the best year for new wind energy so far. Total installations of 117 GW in 2023 represents a 50% year-on-year increase from 2022, according to a report from the Global Wind Energy Council. [reNews]

Installing a rotor (GWEC image)

¶ “Smart Grid Firm Lands $86 Million To Develop VPPs And Help Customers Load Match Renewables” • Irish-based smart grid technology company GridBeyond says it has raised €52.25 million in a new funding round that will help it expand its virtual power plant business and help customers match load with green energy output. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “PM Wants Robust Renewable Energy Plan To Cut Oil Bill” • In Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the authorities managing renewable energy to cut the country’s $27 billion oil import bill and improve the electricity distribution system. He said using renewable energy would also rid the country of its parasitic crude oil tanker mafia. [Dawn]

Karachi (Muhammad Jawaid Shamshad, Unsplash)

¶ “Japan ‘Fossil Fuel Dinosaur’ Announces Launch Of 20-GW Global Renewables Platform” • Japan’s largest power company and one of the largest thermal power producers in the world announced the launch of a major global renewables business. Jera is the latest fossil giant to act on the existential threat of net-zero to its business model. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “Ecoenergy Powers Up 92-MW Romanian Solar” • Econergy has commenced commercial operations at a 92-MW solar park in Parau, Romania. The project is jointly owned by Econergy and RGreen, a French renewable energy investment fund. Econergy provided the plant’s engineering, procurement, and construction management services. [reNews]

Solar array (Andres Siimon, Unsplash)

¶ “UN Nuclear Chief Says Accident Is ‘Dangerously Close’ At Zaporizhzhia” • The head of the IAEA warned that the danger of a major nuclear accident at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remains “very real.” “We are getting dangerously close to a nuclear accident,” Rafael Mariano Grossi told the UN Security Council. [Voice of America]

US:

¶ “US Interior Department Takes Action to Protect Taxpayers from Offshore Oil & Gas Decommissioning Costs” • The Interior Department announced a final rule from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to protect taxpayers from covering costs that should be borne by the oil and gas industry when offshore platforms require decommissioning. [CleanTechnica]

Retired oil rigs (Ben Wicks, Unsplash)

¶ “Guzman Energy Partners With Holy Cross Energy For Power Generated By Bronco Plains II Energy Center” • Guzman Energy and Holy Cross Energy agreed on renewable energy from the Bronco Plains II Energy Center in Kit Carson County, Colorado. The 200-MW wind farm will provide annual power needs for up to 40,000 households. [Yahoo Finance UK]

¶ “CIP Bags 1.3-GW US Onshore Wind Portfolio” • Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners has acquired Liberty Renewables, which has a 1,300-MW portfolio of onshore wind projects in the state of New York. The projects are scheduled to be built to come online during the years 2026 to 2030. Hoffman Falls Wind will be the first project developed. [reNews]

Wind farm (Dan Meyers, Unsplash)

¶ “CAISO Releases Ambitious 2023-2024 Transmission Plan To Address State’s Climate Goals” • The California Independent System Operator released its draft 2023-2024 Transmission Plan. The plan projects significant new generation of renewable energy and identifies 26 new transmission projects estimated to cost a total of $6.1 billion. [Mondaq]

¶ “Largest Offshore Wind Farm Gets Final Permit” • Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial project off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia, has received its final Clean Air Act Outer Continental Shelf air quality permit from the EPA after a 30-day public comment period. It is the largest offshore wind project in the US. [Environment News Service]

Have an impressively enjoyable day.

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April 15 Energy News

Opinion:

¶ “How Farmers Can Thrive In The Evolving Energy Landscape” • In an era marked by climate concerns and renewable energy ambitions, the agricultural sector is at the forefront of innovation and adaptation. As the world seeks sustainable solutions to meet growing energy demands, the roles of managing agricultural land are expanding. [Farmers Weekly]

Solar farm (© Conrad energy)

¶ “Nuclear Energy Is An Ugly Duckling In Every Possible Respect: Too Late, Too Costly, Too Toxic” • According to the International Energy Agency, new solar installations globally were 420 GW in 2023 and new wind installations came to 117 GW. New nuclear fell to just 5.5 GW. The data make it clear that there is no “nuclear renaissance” going on. [RenewEconomy]

World:

¶ “European Commission Data Reveals The WLTP Standard Is Deeply Flawed” • In 2019, the EC required automakers to install onboard fuel consumption monitoring devices in vehicles sold in member states. Now the first tranche of data has been compiled and the results show that the real-world emissions are far worse than expected. [CleanTechnica]

Fumes (Matt Boitor, Unsplash)

¶ “VINCI Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement With Natpower SA” • VINCI finalised an investment coming to about €50 million in NatPower SA, a renewable energy development firm set up in 2019 principally active in Italy, UK, and the US. VINCI will have a priority right on acquiring projects in the ready-to-build phase started by NatPower SA. [Yahoo Finance UK]

¶ “Adani Green Records 35% Growth In Operational Capacity In FY24” • Adani Green Energy Ltd recorded a 35% increase in its operational capacity with the addition of solar and wind power projects in the financial year 2024. The company aims for growth in its renewable capacity to 45,000 MW by 2030, which is 10% of India’s renewable energy target. [NDTV Profit]

Solar farm (Adani Green Energy)

¶ “Japan’s JERA Creates Global Renewables-Focused Unit In Britain” • Japan’s largest power company, JERA, created a global renewable energy business to be based in London. JERA Nex will develop, invest in, own, and operate renewable energy projects. Starting with a 3-GW portfolio of renewable capacity, it aims to develop 20 GW by 2035. [Yahoo Finance UK]

¶ “Norway’s Floating Wind Expertise Propels Taiwan Towards Renewable Energy Goals” • According to the Global Wind Energy Council, Norway commissioned 60 MW of floating wind energy in 2022, making the region’s total installations 91% of all global operations. That work is being put to use as a development model for Taiwan. [digitimes]

Types of floating wind turbines (NREL image)

¶ “Southeast Asia ‘Woefully Off Track’ On Green Investment, Bain Says” • A report from Bain & Company highlights South East Asia’s inadequate green investments, which allow emissions to rise. Urgent actions are needed to tackle reliance on fossil fuels, increase clean energy, and implement carbon pricing for sustainable growth. [The Economic Times]

¶ “Banks Unwilling To Finance $5 Trillion Global Development Of Nuclear” • After decades of being treated as a black sheep, nuclear energy is enjoying a renaissance in the US and many Western countries thanks to the global energy crisis. But any revival of nuclear might be dead in the water, with lenders seeing it as a high-risk sector. [OilPrice.com]

Cooling towers (Lukáš Lehotský, Unsplash)

¶ “Kyiv Warns Of Imminent Russian False Flag Operation At Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • Ukraine’s military leadership warned of a possible false flag operation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Such an operation would make Ukraine appear responsible for whatever took place at the site in southern Ukraine. [South China Morning Post]

US:

¶ “Why One Democrat Doesn’t Want Chinese EV Imports In The US” • In a letter to President Biden, US Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) argued that Chinese EV imports, backed by the Chinese government, threaten the US auto industry. He said “cheating” of this type threatens the US auto industry and its workers, and he asked the President to ban these vehicles. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Seagull (Courtesy of BYD)

¶ “Voltpost Wants To Bring EV Charging To American Cities” • Most people who drive electric cars charge them at home in their driveway or garage. But what if you live in a city like New York where many residents park wherever they can find a space on the street? Voltpost thinks it has an answer that is quick, convenient, and cost effective. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Grid Connection Backlog, Dominated By Solar, Grows To 2.6 TW In 2023” • The grid connection backlog in the US grew by 27% year-on-year in 2023, with about 2.6 TW of generation and storage capacity now seeking interconnection. As of the end of 2023, the total capacity in the queue was more than twice the current US generating capacity of 1.28 TW. [PV Tech]

Transmission towers (Matthew Henry, Unsplash)

¶ “Repsol Completes 637-MW Frye Solar project In Texas” • The Spanish oil and gas company Repsol completed the Frye Solar project, its largest solar plant to date in the US. The solar facility in Swisher County, Texas, has an installed capacity of 637 MW, of which 570 MW is currently operational. The project has a million solar panels. [GlobalData]

¶ “A Major US State Just Achieved A Critical Milestone For Nearly Two Weeks. Why Isn’t There More News Coverage?” • California has set a benchmark for renewable energy, with wind, solar, and hydro providing 100% of the state’s energy demand on 25 out of the last 32 days. The data comes from Professor Mark Z Jacobson of Stanford University. [The Cool Down]

Have a quietly uplifting day.

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April 14 Energy News

Science and Technology:

¶ “Nickel-Mining Plants To Juice EV Battery Supply Chain” • The EV battery supply chain has its pitfalls. The environmental cost of nickel mining is one of them. A solution to that may have emerged in the form of a new US phytomining startup called Metalplant. Phytomining is the practice of growing plants for their metal content. [CleanTechnica]

Phytomining (courtesy of ARPA-E)

¶ “Car Exhaust And Alzheimer’s” • Researchers in Australia and Singapore found a link between car exhaust and Alzheimer’s. This opens up a whole new argument in favour of the uptake of EVs and the removal of fossil fuels. Somehow, people ignore such issues and still claim that energy from fossil fuels outweighs the risks of a transition to electricity. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Volkswagen ID Buzz Robotaxis For Hamburg” • Volkswagen is still working on introducing fully electric ID Buzz robotaxis. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles chief executive Carsten Intra said: “We want to offer test drives for customers in Hamburg this year, under real conditions.” This will be through Volkswagen Group subsidiary MOIA. [CleanTechnica]

Volkswagen ID Buzz robotaxi
(Volkswagen/MOIA, © Dirk Eisermann/FAKTOR3)

¶ “Tesla’s Tenuous Hold On EV Market May Mean Opening Up South Asia” • Tesla is planning to send a team of people to scout for locations in India this month. The broad brush strokes of the upcoming discussions reportedly will affirm the company’s plans for investment in the South Asia nation, including setting up a manufacturing facility. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Malta Could Run On 100% Renewables Once Planned Energy Projects Are Completed, Says Energy Expert” • The Maltese islands could become fully reliant on renewable energy sources for considerable periods of time once the government’s planned energy projects are completed, a government energy expert told The Malta Independent. [The Malta Independent]

Birgu, Malta (Yevheniia, Unsplash)

¶ “Untapped Rooftop Solar: Australian Homes Could Save $9.3 Billion A Year, UNSW Study Finds” • Australian households could save $9.3 billion on energy bills each year by investing in home solar systems, a report found. The Solar Citizens study found the investment would pay for itself in just over five years, and then save A$1390 per year. [One Step Off The Grid]

¶ “India Added A Record 18 GW Renewable Energy Capacity In FY24” • India added a record renewable capacity of 18.48 GW in 2023-24, up 21% from 15.27 GW the tear before, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy data shows. India’s installed renewable capacity came to 143.64 GW, as of March 31, 2024. That does not count 47 GW of large hydropower. [TheBengaluruLive]

Solar Plant Maharashtra (Thomas Lloyd Group, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “IAEA Chief Welcomes Cold Shutdown Of All Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Reactor Units” • The safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in Ukraine remains fragile, but the change to a cold shutdown of all six reactor units, accomplished on Saturday, is a good development, according to the UN nuclear watchdog director. [Firstpost]

US:

¶ “Good News About Electric Cars: They’re Driving Down Electricity Rates” • In a study commissioned by the Natural Resources Defense Council, an analysis by Synapse found that between 2011 and 2021, electric car drivers contributed $3.12 billion more than their associated costs, which drove down monthly rates for “all customers.” [CleanTechnica]

Tesla charging in Munich (alex, Unsplash)

¶ “Tesla Still Worth More Than Toyota, Porsche, Mercedes, And Hyundai Combined” • Tesla’s stock price and market cap are down considerably this year. What does this mean? If you want to take an American perspective, Tesla is still worth more than Ford, GM, Stellantis, Honda, Volkswagen, BMW, BYD, Hyundai, and Kia combined. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Northwest Oregon Dams’ 2023 Power Generation At Lowest Level In 22 Years” • Hydropower to generate electricity from Oregon and Washington dams dropped to historically low levels in 2023, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration on hydroelectricity in the Northwest for the year ending September 30, 2023. [Daily Tidings]

Gold Ray Dam in Oregon (Finetooth, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Company Works Toward Building Community Solar Project Near Eldorado” • Solar panels could pop up on about 30 acres of vacant land in the area of Eldorado, New Mexico, within a year, an outcome of state leaders’ push for renewable energy. The New Mexico Community Solar Program came about as a result of a law passed in 2021. [AOL.com]

¶ “Utah Solar Developer Taps Area Near Phoenix For $1.2 Billion Project; Water Negotiations Underway” • A group of investors who own roughly 30,000 acres of land in the Harquahala Valley, about 60 miles west of Phoenix, signed a deal to build a $1.2 billion solar project. They are negotiating separate deals for the water under the project. [ABC15 Arizona]

Have a placidly pleasant day.

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April 13 Energy News

Science and Technology:

¶ “New Material Could Double Output Of Solar Panels” • In a research study published in the journal Science Advances, scientists at Lehigh University say they developed a material that has the potential to drastically increase the efficiency of solar panels. The university says a prototype using the material in a solar cell has an average PV absorption of 80%. [CleanTechnica]

Schematic of solar cell (Ekuma Lab, Lehigh)

World:

¶ “NTPC Targets 5 GW Of Capacity Addition in Fiscal Year 2025” • NTPC Ltd committed to expanding its installed capacity by 5 GW, of which 3 GW would be renewable. NTPC plans to expand its non-fossil fuel-based capacity to constitute up to 50% of its portfolio, with plans to reach 60 GW of renewable capacity out of a portfolio of 130 GW by 2032. [SolarQuarter]

¶ “Iberdrola’s Renewable Energy Production Reaches 10-Year Highs In Spain” • Investments by the Iberdrola in renewables and a commitment to decarbonization pushed production of clean energy in Spain to a decade high. In the first quarter of 2024, the group generated 10,489 GWh with clean energy, up 19.4% from the same period last year. [Iberdrola]

Wind turbines (Iberdrola image)

¶ “Empowering Agriculture: Andhra Pradesh’s Solar Energy Revolution” • In Andhra Pradesh, the electricity sector has seen a major move toward renewable energy, especially solar. This shift is primarily aimed at enhancing sustainability of power supplies, especially for agriculture. The plan is to acquire 7,000 MW of solar power in three phases. [SolarQuarter]

¶ “Pakistan Strikes $200 Million Solar Power Deal With Chinese Firm” • Pakistan’s Northern Power Generation Company Limited signed a deal worth $200 million with a prominent Chinese firm, Ningbo Green Light Energy Pvt Ltd. The deal aims to transform an existing thermal power plant into a state-of-the-art 300-MW solar power facility. [Samaa TV]

Solar site in Pakistan (Crosji, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Egyptian Solar Set To Expand Beyond The Massive 1.8-GW Benban PV Project” • The Russian invasion of Ukraine drove up gas prices and turned Europeans away from Russian fuel. Egypt shipped 80% of its liquefied natural gas to Europe last year. The country’s new revenue and falling PV costs combined to change Egypt’s energy landscape. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Southeast Asia Is Betting Big on a Green Future” • Despite the continued reliance on fossil fuels by some countries in Southeast Asia, many governments in the region are going full steam ahead on energy transition plans. Thanks to funding from international sources, some countries in Southeast Asia are finally able to plan for a greener future. [OilPrice.com]

Solar walkway in Malaysia (Wee Hong, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Last Reactor At Ukrainian Nuclear Plant Put Into Cold State” • The last reactor at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine has been shut down as fighting continues in the area for the third year. This means that all of the plant’s six reactor units are now in a cold shutdown state. The war has entered its third year. [Radio Free Europe]

US:

¶ “US Interior Department Announces Final Rule For Oil & Gas Operations On Public Lands” • The Interior Department has announced a final rule to revise BLM oil & gas lease regulations. It is to ensure balanced development, help prevent drilling from conflicting with habitat and cultural site protections, and provide a fair return to taxpayers. [CleanTechnica]

Public lands in Idaho (Alex Moliski, Unsplash)

¶ “DOE Finalizes Efficiency Standards For Lightbulbs” • The US DOE finalized Congressionally-mandated energy efficiency standards for general service lamps. These standards will go into effect for newly produced bulbs in July of 2028. The new bulbs are expected to save American families $1.6 billion annually on household energy costs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Enel Plans To ‘Copy And Paste’ Italy Solar Panel Factory In The US” • Enel plans to build a solar panel factory in the US as it rolls out more renewable energy capacity in North America. Enel Green Power Chief Executive Salvatore Bernabei referred to an Italian factory, saying, “Our idea is to copy and paste this to other markets, including the US.” [Yahoo Lifestyle Canada]

Making solar cells (Oregon DOT, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Solar Is Largest Source Of New Generating Capacity For Sixth Month In A Row” • A review by the SUN DAY Campaign of data recently-released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shows that for the sixth month in a row, solar provided more new US electrical generating capacity than any other energy source, 83.64% of the total. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “Shell And Eco Wave Co-Invest In First US Onshore Wave Energy Station” • Eco Wave Power Global AB has entered an agreement with Shell to participate in the development of Eco Wave Power’s first project in the US. A feasibility study showed at least 77 sites in the US that may be compatible for the the Eco Wave Power technology. [Energy Global]

Have an adequately majestic day.

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April 12 Energy News

Opinion:

¶ “Small Modular Reactors Don’t Add Up As A Viable Energy Source” • The nuclear industry has been offering so-called Small Modular Reactors as an alternative to large reactors as a possible solution to climate change. However, when evaluated on the basis of cost per unit of power capacity, SMRs will actually be more expensive than large reactors. [Impakter]

Discussion on SMRs (NRC, public domain)

Science and Technology:

¶ “A New Dawn For Solar Cells: 190% Quantum Efficiency Is Possible” • The Shockley-Queisser limit refers a theory about an upper limit of PV technology efficiency. The limit is now thought to be 33.7%. But Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems achieved 47.6%, and they are still working to improve efficiency. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “The Fight Against Coal In Southeast Asia” • Of the 222 GW of utility-scale solar and wind projects currently in the pipeline across Association of Southeast Asian Nations, more than 80% is focused on Vietnam and the Philippines. Most countries in the ASEAN region are hesitant to commit to policies that may slow economic growth. [CleanTechnica]

EDP Renewables 254.8-MW Solar Farm in Vietnam

¶ “Unsold Chinese EVs Are Piling Up At European Ports” • The EU has no tariff wall on Chinese EVs, though the European Commission is studying how to respond to an anticipated flood of cheap Chinese EVs. So, Chinese car makers have been sending EVs to Europe. But the effect of this has been to turn European ports into car parks. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Teslas For India, At Last” • Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin is making headlines as it gears up to produce right-hand drive vehicles for the Indian market, a first for the German plant. Tesla’s RHD EV production had been managed by Giga Shanghai, for countries like Australia, Japan, and the UK. But Giga Berlin will contribute to Tesla’s global efforts now. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla (Charlie Deets, Unsplash)

¶ “Community-Scale Agrivoltaics Powering Rural Development Through Renewable Energy” • India’s rural people need reliable electricity to improve their quality of life. In many developed economies, agrivoltaics, combining solar PV installations with agricultural operations, has much improved the living conditions of rural people. [The Financial Express]

¶ “UK Renewable Boom Plunges Electricity Prices” • Wholesale electricity prices in the UK fell sharply in the first quarter of 2024 due to a significant increase in renewable energy production, as reported by Montel EnAppSys. The average prices dropped by 22% compared to the previous quarter, with average day-ahead prices close to £64.50/MWh. [Energy Live News]

Renewable energy in the UK (Mat Fascione, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Quinbrook Closes First Stage Of 2-GWh Supernode Battery Project” • Quinbrook Infrastructure is building the A$325 million ($212 million) first stage of its Supernode project in southeast Queensland. It is to host a battery energy storage system of up to 800 MW and 2,000 MWh to support a data center and provide grid services. [pv magazine Australia]

US:

¶ “Environmentalists Protest As Biden Administration Approves Huge Oil Export Terminal Off Texas Coast” • In a move that some call a betrayal, the Biden administration has approved the construction of a deepwater oil export terminal off the Texas coast that would be the largest of its kind in the US. It will be able to ship 2 million barrels of crude oil per day. [ABC News]

Pumping platform (Edibobb, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Final Rules Implement SEIA’s Solutions To Lower Fees And Streamline Renewable Energy Development” • The US BLM has issued final rules on leasing and rentals for renewable energy projects on public lands. The final rules closely follow the Solar Energy Industries Association’s recommendations to streamline clean energy development. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Utah Coal Plants Will Continue Hazing Up The State’s Crown Jewels, And Those Of Other States” • One thing we’re learning in late 2023 and 2024 so far, is that sometimes, there are setbacks, and things don’t move as fast as we’d like. That is what happened in Utah, as the state cut way back on its goal to get rid of its coal-burning power plants. [CleanTechnica]

Coal-burning plant (Tricia Simpson, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Tesla Leading in Auto Brand Loyalty” • In the ever-evolving landscape of EVs, Tesla stands tall as a beacon of innovation and brand loyalty. A survey conducted by Bloomberg Intelligence shows the current state of the EV market, revealing trends and consumer preferences. Tesla leads both for brand loyalty and as a brand to switch to. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Community Solar Developer Nexamp Raises $520 Million to Accelerate Deployment” • Nexamp, a developer and operator of distributed solar with storage, announced that it raised $520 million. Proceeds from the financing are to accelerate growth as the company expands into new markets and builds its renewable energy and storage capacity. [ESG Today]

Nexamp solar array (Nexamp immage)

¶ “US Surpasses Renewable Energy Goal For Public Lands” • The Biden administration said the US has already surpassed a goal of permitting more than 25 GW of clean energy projects on public lands by 2025, and it finalized a plan to reduce project fees for wind and solar energy on federal acreage. Decarbonizing the grid by 2035 is the goal for the US. [SRN News]

¶ “Yucca Mountain Is Back; Nevadans Are Mad” • Lawmakers are digging up a zombie of a plan: storing nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, a long-contested site in Nevada. One US lawmaker said, “Opposition has inhibited congressional appropriations and driven the executive branch to dismantle what has otherwise been a technically successful program,” [Politico]

Have an amazingly amusing day.

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April 11 Energy News

World:

¶ “Nuclear Energy ‘Now An Obstacle To Delivering Net Zero’ – Greenpeace” • Nuclear energy provides about 25% of the world’s low-carbon electricity. However, Greenpeace director of policy Doug Parr said, “Nuclear power can’t bridge the gap between anything and anything. It is too slow. It is too expensive. It is a massive distraction.” [Energy Monitor]

Sign at Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (Kilian Karger, Unsplash)

¶ “MEPs Sign Off On Climate Targets For Heavy-Duty Vehicles” • The European Parliament approved a law requiring almost all new trucks sold in 2040 to be zero-emission vehicles. Transport & Environment said the law will help European manufacturers compete with foreign electric truckmakers and greatly reduce the annual CO₂ emissions. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Misguided Fight Against The 2025 Cars Target” • In 2019, as the first meaningful emissions targets for the car industry were about to enter force, Brussels was flooded with bleak predictions about the astronomical fines automakers would have to pay. That turned out not to be true. Now, a new set of predictions is telling us what will go wrong. [CleanTechnica]

Charging an electric car (Vlad Tchompalov, Unsplash)

¶ “Australia Announces New Subsidy Policy For Renewable Energy Manufacturing” • Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced an initiative modeled on the US Inflation Reduction Act to seize the opportunities of the global renewable energy transition and to capitalize further on Australia’s notable clean energy resources. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Coalition Nuclear Plan Would Force Consumers To Wait 20 Years Longer And Have 30% Higher Electricity Bills” • Australia’s Coalition is making unproven assertions that ‘zero emissions’ electricity can be provided more cheaply and reliably by nuclear than renewable energy. Here, we examine the weighted average levelized costs of energy. [RenewEconomy]

Cooling towers (Frettie, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Proposed $4 Billion Pumped Hydro Project Could Power A Third Of Sydney’s Households By 2031” • Sydney’s main source of drinking water could also supply enough renewable energy to power almost a third of the city’s households by 2031, if a 1-MW pumped hydro project using a former coal washery proceeds as planned. [The Guardian]

¶ “Captive Power Generation Surge As More Firms Shift” • Major firms in Kenya are turning to captive solar power. Captive power generation offers organizations the ability to produce their own electricity on-site, particularly beneficial for power-intensive industries such as aluminium smelters and chemical plants that require a reliable energy supply. [People Daily]

Solar installation (Biel Morro, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Climate Change Threatens Loon Population, New Study Shows” • Famous for their nocturnal calls, loons are aquatic birds often described as icons of the Northwoods. But research shows climate change impairs their ability to feed their young. Climate-induced decreases in water clarity could be a cause for the loon population declines. [ABC News]

¶ “NREL Unveils Groundbreaking Generative Machine Learning Model To Simulate Future Energy-Climate Impacts” • Energy system planners and operators need detailed data projected into the future to see how climate change will impact wind and solar generation and electricity demand. Scientists at NREL built a tool to help with that. [CleanTechnica]

Sup3rCC tool (Photo by Joe DelNero, NREL)

¶ “First-Ever National Drinking Water Standard to Protect 100 Million People from PFAS Pollution” • On April 10, the Biden-Harris Administration issued the first legally enforceable national drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to harmful per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals.’ [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Virginia Governor Signs Legislation Establishing Community Solar” • Governor Glenn Youngkin signed legislation that creates a community solar program in Virginia enabling up to 200 MW of shared power projects between the two major utilities that serve the state. Virginia targets 30% renewable energy by 2030, and 100% by 2050. [pv magazine USA]

Sheep grazing at solar farm (Dominion Energy)

¶ “Replacing Wires Could Double How Much Electricity The US Grid Can Handle” • Everyone seems to agree the US electrical grid will need modernizing as the demand for electric power increases. There are new technologies available that may allow the existing grid to carry more electricity without all those messy policy hurdles to jump over. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Avangrid Broke Ground On Its First Solar Farm In California” • Avangrid is one of the largest clean energy operators in the US, with 8.7 GW of installed renewables capacity in the country. Now, it is building its first solar farm in California, the 57-MW Camino Solar Project in Kern County. The company already has six wind farms in the state. [Electrek]

Solar system (Tom Brewster, BLM California, cropped)

¶ “Solar And Wind Power Is Surging In The Mountain West, But There’s Plenty Of Room To Grow, Study Finds” • Nationwide, wind turbines and solar panels generated more than 600,000 GWh of electricity in 2023, which is enough to power more than 61 million average American homes, according to research group Climate Central. [KSUT Public Radio]

¶ “Solar To Displace Natural Gas In Daytime And In Summer On The Texas Grid” • With more solar energy on the ERCOT grid, the EIA expects less natural gas use when solar energy displaces it in the middle of the day. The EIA also expects less use of natural gas in the summer when electricity demand is highest. Power demand is driven by heat in Texas. [Electrek]

Have a thoroughly grand day.

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April 10 Energy News

World:

¶ “UN Atomic Watchdog Says The Status Of Russian-Occupied Ukraine Nuclear Plant Is ‘Extremely Serious’” • An explosion caused by an alleged drone attack at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant posed no direct threat to its safety but underscored the “extremely serious situation” at the facility that is in the war ‘s crossfire, the IAEA said. [ABC News]

Control room in Zaporizhzhia (IAEA Imagebank, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Hypocrisy In High Places As Developed Countries Continue To Fund Fossil Fuel Development Despite Pledge To Stop” • A report from Oil Change International and Friends of the Earth highlights how governments of so-called “first world” countries fund fossil fuel companies so they can continue expanding their operations in developing nations. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Swiss Climate Group Wins Victory At European Court Of Human Rights” • A group of older Swiss women brought a suit to the European Court Of Human Rights, claiming that the Swiss government has denied them a clean and safe environment. The ECHR found Switzerland had failed to comply with its duties to stop climate change. [CleanTechnica]

Locarno, Switzerland (Johnson Hung, Unsplash)

¶ “Scottish Hydrogen Start-Up Secures Funding” • Scottish start-up Clyde Hydrogen Systems announced the successful closure of its pre-seed funding round totaling over £1 million in equity and grants. Clyde Hydrogen’s decoupled electrolyser technology delivers high pressure green hydrogen safely at scale and at low cost, according to the company. [reNews]

¶ “Nine In Ten Australians Favor Renewable Energy Transition, Nearly Half Want It To Go Faster” • The CSIRO released a survey on attitudes nationwide towards the renewable energy transition. Almost half of the participants (47%) said they backed a moderate paced transition to renewables, and 40% said they wanted a faster and more extensive change. [RenewEconomy]

Wind turbine in Australia (Stephen Edmonds, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “EU Launches Trade Probe Into Chinese Turbine Makers” • The EU has started an investigation into Chinese wind turbines under the new Foreign Subsidies Regulation. The announcement comes as Chinese wind turbine manufacturers are pushing hard and winning some orders in Europe, according to the trade association WindEurope. [reNews]

¶ “Incredible 60% Of Europe’s Electricity Was Powered By Clean Energy In The First Two Months Of 2024” • According to energy think tank Ember, Europe’s generation of 516,500 GWh of renewable electricity in January and February satisfied 60% of overall power demand. This marks a gain of 12% from the same period in 2023. [Good News Network]

Wind turbines in Spain (Raimond Klavins, Unsplash)

¶ “Protesters Oppose Nuclear Power Plant Extension” • Protesters gathered in front of the Legislature on Wednesday morning to protest the potential reopening of nuclear power plants. After recent electricity price hikes, Taiwan’s opposition party has suggested extending the service of nuclear power plants in Taiwan. [RTI Radio Taiwan International]

US:

¶ “New EPA Rule Says 218 US Chemical Plants Must Reduce Toxic Emissions That Are Likely To Cause Cancer” • More than 200 chemical plants nationwide will be required to reduce toxic emissions that are likely to cause cancer under a new rule issued by the EPA. The rule advances President Joe Biden’s pledge on environmental justice. [ABC News]

Chemical plant (Paul Teysen, Unsplash)

April 9 Energy News

Science and Technology:

¶ “Swapping An 800-MW Gas Generator For A 680-MW, 2720-MWh Grid-Scale Battery” • A decade ago, GE installed a state of the art combined cycle methane-fired turbine at a generating station southeast of Los Angeles. Fast forward to 2024: It has been demolished, and a $1 billion battery storage facility is being built for Calpine in its place. [CleanTechnica]

Calpine grid-scale battery, image courtesy of Calpine

World:

¶ “March Is Tenth Straight Month To Be Hottest On Record, Scientists Say” • For the tenth consecutive month, Earth set a new monthly record for global heat in March, with temperatures of both the air and the oceans hitting an all-time highs for the month, according to Copernicus, the EU climate agency. It was 1.68°C (3°F) warmer than in the late 1800s. [NPR]

¶ “A Small Group Of Carbon Majors Has Created The Most Climate Pollution, And They’re Not Slowing Down” • Which companies are most heavily linked to CO₂ emissions? The ignominious winners are the most prominent group of carbon majors, the world’s largest oil, gas, coal, and cement producers. And the emissions are increasing. [CleanTechnica]

Deepwater Horizon (Patrick Kelley, USCG, public domain)

¶ “Construction Starts On Massive Solar Farm To Feed Green Hydrogen Project” • Construction has started on one of the largest solar farms in Australia. The 480-MW Aldoga solar project will help power a green hydrogen project being developed by Queensland utility Stanwell Corp. Queensland has a goal of 80% renewables by 2035. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “Just 3% Of Land Could Boost UK Renewables Generation 13-Fold” • Analysis from Friends of the Earth details how onshore renewables could cut emissions and curb energy costs without impacting food production. Onshore wind and solar projects could generate more than enough power if the government were to relax restrictive planning rules. [Business Green]

Devon countryside (Craig Cameron, Unsplash)

¶ “Nuveen, Exus Ink 800-MW Italian Battery Deal” • Nuveen Infrastructure and Exus Renewables have agreed to co-develop 800 MW of battery storage projects in southern Italy. The deal will see Nuveen Infrastructure and Exus commence a series of standalone battery energy storage system schemes across the Puglia region of Italy. [reNews]

¶ “South Australia’s Oldest Wind Farm Signs Up For New Long Term Power Deal” • Electricity retailer Zen Energy says it has signed 10-year off take deals with two Australian wind farms, including the oldest major wind facility in South Australia, as it boosts its renewable energy supplies. Both wind farms are owned and operated by Ratch-Australia. [RenewEconomy]

Wind farm (Ratch-Australia image)

¶ “Luxcara Reaches FID On 316 MW Of Danish Solar” • Luxcara and Bayerische Landesbank have achieved financial close for a 316-MW solar portfolio located in Denmark. The projects form one of the largest solar power plant sets in Northern Europe. It consists of three large scale projects, two in the region of Zealand and one in Jutland. [reNews]

¶ “Former Scottish Airfield To Become Supply Chain Hub” • A former RAF and Royal Navy base is set to be developed to give renewables businesses entering the north of Scotland a strategic location. Highland Deephaven on the Cromarty Firth in the Scottish Highlands began its life as a military airfield before becoming a strategic site for reneables. [reNews]

Highland Deephaven (Highland rural image)

¶ “Russia And Ukraine Trade Blame Over Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Drone Strike” • Russia and Ukraine accused each other of launching kamikaze drones at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in an incident condemned by the International Atomic Energy Agency for recklessly endangering safety. The nuclear watchdog inspectors said that structural integrity was not compromised. [The Guardian]

US:

¶ “New Electric Tugboat Unveiled At Port Of San Diego” • The Port of San Diego recently unveiled an electric tugboat, the eWolf. The electric tugboat runs only on electricity, whereas a conventional tugboat uses diesel fuel. Air pollution at ports is a well-documented problem, and this electric tugboat generates no carbon dioxide or air pollution. [CleanTechnica]

The eWolf (Courtesy of Crowley Maritime Corporation)

¶ “US Says No To EV Subsidies For Cars Built In EU” • The US and the EU may be all warm and cozy inside their NATO mutual defense blanket, but America has given Europe the cold shoulder recently when it comes to cars made on the Old Continent being eligible for US EV tax credits and rebates. One issue is the source of components. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “America’s Largest-Ever Clean Energy Investment For Low-Income Communities” • America’s largest investmetn in clean energy for low-income and disadvantaged communities will soon be deployed. Leveraged effectively, this investment, $20 billion from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, will deliver transformation along with clean energy. [CleanTechnica]

Queens (James, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Rooftop Solar In New England Produced Five Seabrook Stations Worth Of Electricity” • At noon on March 30, 56% of the electricity being used in New England came from wind and solar. An estimated 5,964 MW was coming from behind-the-meter solar panels, mostly rooftop arrays. The Seabrook nuclear plant produced about a fifth of that. [Concord Monitor]

¶ “Plans For Massive Data Center Linked To Nuclear Power Spark Debate On Connecticut’s Energy Future” • Thomas Quinn, the president of NE Edge, wants to build a hyperscale data center, to be the single largest user of electricity in Connecticut, next to the Millstone Nuclear plant. The center would use more than 9% of the average power in the state. [CT Examiner]

Have a fully flawless day.

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April 8 Energy News

World:

¶ “Drones Attack The Russian-Held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • The head of the UN’s atomic watchdog agency condemned a Ukrainian drone strike that hit one of the six nuclear reactors at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, saying such attacks “significantly increase the risk of a major nuclear accident.” [ABC News]

Iranian drones (Tasnim News Agency, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “RMI And Five Global Banks Launch A Voluntary Emissions Standard For Aviation Lending Portfolios” • RMI announced Pegasus Guidelines, the first voluntary climate-aligned finance framework for aviation sector lending, designed to help banks independently measure and disclose the climate alignment of their aviation loan portfolios. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Irish Wind Hits Record Levels For March” • Wind generation in Ireland hit a new record for a March month, according to Wind Energy Ireland’s monthly wind energy report. The latest figures show that Irish wind farms generated 1541 GWh of power in March 2024, surpassing the previous record of 1392 GWh set in March 2020. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Nordex image)

¶ “CETO Wave Energy Secures Spanish Berth” • CETO Wave Energy Ireland, owned by Carnegie Clean Energy, has signed an assignment agreement with the Biscay Marine Energy Platform and Wave Energy Scotland Limited. Wave Energy Scotland secured berth reservation rights for CETO Wave Energy Ireland as a successful Phase 3 Contractor. [reNews]

¶ “First Advanced Nuclear Reactor Submitted For Justification In UK” • The Nuclear Industry Association applied for a justification decision for newcleo’s lead-cooled fast reactor, the LFR-AS-200. The application says that the benefits of clean, firm, flexible power from the LFR-AS-200 would far outweigh any potential risks. [The Manufacturer]

Lead-cooled reactor (Idaho National Library, public domain)

India:

¶ “Climate crisis impacts citizens’ right to life: Supreme Court” • Climate change impacts the constitutional guarantee of right to life, India’s Supreme Court said in a judgment. It emphasized that India must prioritise clean energy initiatives such as solar power as citizens have a right to be free from the adverse effects of the climate emergency. [Hindustan Times]

¶ “Adani Kicks Off Commercial Production Of Wafers, Ingots” • Adani Group has started production of the wafers and ingots essential for manufacturing solar power cells and modules at a plant in Gujarat. Adani Group aims to be India’s first integrated renewable energy player and plans for its renewables to reach 45 GW by 2030. [Manufacturing Today India]

Work on a silicon wafer (ENERGY.GOV, public domain)

¶ “15 GW Hydroelectric Power Capacity Under Construction” • In India, hydroelectric power projects with a combined capacity of 15 GW are currently in progress, with expectations to elevate the nation’s hydro capacity from 42 GW to 67 GW by the fiscal year 2031-32, representing a substantial increase of more than half of the current capacity. [ProjectsMonitor]

US:

¶ “New Jersey National Guard To Help With 6 GW Of Offshore Wind” • Fossil energy stakeholders smelled blood last year when they helped mobilize local residents to oppose offshore wind off the coast of New Jersey. Now the Garden State is back on track on a long-term goal of 11 GW by 2040, with a little help from the New Jersey National Guard. [CleanTechnica]

Offshore wind turbine (Courtesy of NJ DEP)

¶ “Washington State Passes Cutting-Edge Policies To Reduce Emissions” • Washington passed the first law in the US to outline a pathway for a combined gas and electricity utility to transition away from gas. The state requires all utilities to offer 100% clean electricity by 2045. This law paves the way for its largest dual-fuel utility to decarbonize. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “A New EPA Rule Is Meant To Prevent Chemical Disasters, But Safety Advocates Say Loopholes Remain” • There is a chemical disaster on average once every two days in the US, the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters says. The EPA recently released a safety rule meant to reduce chemical disasters, but advocates say loopholes remain. [CleanTechnica]

Fire at a petrochemical plant (US Chemical Safety Board image)

¶ “The Hydrogen Companies Pushing For Strict Subsidy Rules” • Hy Stor wants to use such salt caverns to store hydrogen made by splitting water molecules with electrolysis powered by renewable energy. Hy Stor supports proposed rules for a federal tax credit for ​“green” hydrogen fuel production. Without the rules, “green” hydrogen can increase emissions. [Canary Media]

¶ “Microsoft Signs Two Large Solar Power Purchase Agreements” • Leeward Renewable Energy announced that it entered into two 200-MW power purchase agreements with Microsoft for power generated by the Morrow Lake Solar and Cradle Solar, both in Texas. Microsoft has set a goal of 100% renewable energy for data centers by 2025. [pv magazine International]

Solar workers (Leward Renewable Energy image)

¶ “A Solar Ban, A Gas Power Plant And The Rural Retirees Firing Back At Dirty Energy” • Retirees at a meeting in Arizona were upset. There is a moratorium on renewable energy projects, and they are being presented with a gas-powered peaker plant. Its electricity will be expensive and dirtier than solar-plus-battery, and they are angry. [The Arizona Republic]

¶ “Solar Surge: South Dakota Sees New Interest In Solar Power” • Less than a year ago, the only utility-scale solar farm in South Dakota was a 1-MW facility near Pierre, which accounted for just 0.01% of the state’s overall power generation. But recent events have brightened the outlook for future development of solar power projects. [South Dakota News Watch]

Have a magically fun day.

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April 7 Energy News

Science and Technology:

¶ “‘Simply Mind-Boggling’: World Record Temperature Jump In Antarctic Raises Fears Of Catastrophe” • Scientists at Concordia research station on the east Antarctic plateau documented a remarkable event. They recorded the largest temperature jump ever measured at a meteorological center on Earth, 38.5°C above its seasonal average. [The Guardian]

Penguins (Eamonn Maguire, Unsplash)

¶ “WMO Issues Bright Red Alert” • The World Meteorological Organization’s annual report says, “Scientific knowledge of climate change has existed for more than five decades, and yet we’ve missed an entire generation of opportunity. We must base today’s decisions upon future generations rather than short-term economic interests.” [Pressenza]

World:

¶ “Volvo Sets All-Time Sales Record Thanks To EV Sales Surge” • Volvo sold 78,970 vehicles worldwide in March, a 25% increase YOY. Sales of fully electric cars were up 43% and made up 23% of all Volvo March global sales. Volvo sales in Europe, the firm’s top market, rose 33% in March. Even better, sales of its fully electric cars rose 66% over last year’s total. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo EX30 Cloud (Volvo image)

¶ “EVs Take 22.9% Share Of The UK – Laggards Exposed” • March saw plugin EVs take 22.9% share of the UK auto market, barely up from 22.4% year on year. Full electric share fell, while the plugin hybrid share grew. Overall auto volume was 317,786 units, up 10% YOY, though still far below pre-2020 norms. The UK’s leading battery EV brand was Tesla. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Government To Electrify Small Isolated Villages With Solar Power” • The Sindh Chief Minister said that according to the Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman’s election manifesto, the provincial government would provide solar power systems to energise small isolated villages under the Village Electrification Programme. [The News International]

Rural Pakistan (Jahanzeb Ahsan, Unsplash)

¶ “Globeleq Says R5.7-Billion Red Sands Will Be Africa’s Largest Standalone Battery Storage Project” • Globeleq, Africa’s largest independent power producer, says the 153-MW, 612-MWh Red Sands project will be the largest standalone battery energy storage system in Africa and will carry an investment value of R5.7 billion ($304 million). [Engineering News]

¶ “Good News For The Citizens Of Karachi Low Cost Renewable Will Be Added In The K Electric System” • K Electric has given good news to the citizens of Karachi who are suffering from expensive electricity. 640 MW will be added from wind energy. Solar and wind power will significantly reduce the production cost of electricity. [CustomNews.pk]

Karachi (Muhammad Jawaid Shamshad, Unsplash)

¶ “PH Needs 53 GW By 2040 Under Higher Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard” • The Philippines would need 52.83 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2040 after the Department of Energy hiked the RPS, an official said. DOE Assistant Secretary Mylene Capongcol said the new required RE capacity in 2040 is seven times the current level. [Philippine News Agency]

¶ “Power Engineers Repair Backup Power Line To Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant” • A statement from Ukrainian energy company Ukrenergo said, “Ukrenergo repair crews have fixed and put back into operation a 330 kV high-voltage overhead line that provides a backup power supply to ZNPP. It was damaged during the Russian attack on 4 April.” [Українська правда]

Power line in Ukraine (Валерий Дед, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

US:

¶ “NM Air Quality Decision-Makers Vote To Continue New Clean Car Standards” • The New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board voted 4-1 to reject a challenge to newly enacted clean car standards. Also, the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board voted unanimouslyto reject the challenge. These standards will bring the state more EVs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Beats Coal In Fossil-Friendly Texas, Despite Fossil Friends” • The renewable energy juggernaut keeps rolling on in Texas, even though public officials bend over backwards to keep fossil energy interests safe. Coal’s market share fell below 10% for the first time ever, to just over 9%. And solar’s market share rose above 10% in the same month. [CleanTechnica]

Solar pavilion at Fair Park, Dallas (Michael Barera, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Alternus Clean Energy, Acadia Energy Form JV To Develop Microgrids In New York” • Alternus Clean Energy said it formed a joint venture with renewable energy developer Acadia Energy to co-develop 200 MW of microgrid projects in New York State. The JV will focus on developing and operating the microgrids over the next two to three years. [Reuters]

¶ “Interest In Virtual Power Plants Grows” • A virtual power plant is seen as a cost-effective way to help electric grids caught up in changing times. Retirements of aging power plants come along with difficulties building cleaner generating plants along with the transmission lines they need, just when demand for electricity is projected to be huge. [Louisiana Illuminator]

Have a nicely endowed day.

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April 6 Energy News

Science and Technology:

¶ “The Potential Of Solar And Mesh-Grids” • While the power potential of mini-grids make them viable for densely populated areas, they are too expensive for rural areas with low population densities. Mesh-grids are offer a more affordable system than traditional off-grid installations, often with a cost just 60% of that of mini-grids. [CleanTechnica]

Cambodian floating solar mesh-grid (Courtesy of Okra Solar)

¶ “New Green Energy Technique Could Kick Lithium Demand Into High Gear” • Engineers at the University of Illinois Chicago report a new green ammonia production process using lithium, nitrogen, and hydrogen. Their process could be very important for climate change efforts because of its much reduced carbon emissions. [Mugglehead Magazine]

World:

¶ “Austria Likely To Be Largely Ice-Free Within 45 Years As Its Glaciers Recede Quickly, Experts Say” • Austrian glaciers receded rapidly last year and the country is likely to be largely ice-free in 40 to 45 years as the process continues. The Austrian Alpine Club said that, of the 93 glaciers its volunteers measured, all but one receded in 2022-2023. [ABC News]

Skiing at Stubai Glacier (Markos Mant, Unsplash)

¶ “New Zealand Passenger EV Penetration Was Just Under 10% In March 2024” • The New Zealand passenger EV market has seen a rise from the doldrums of February, when it reached a low of 4.1% market share. Just below 10% of passenger vehicles sold in NZ in March came with a plug. Thus, the quarter’s average was at about 6% plugin vehicles. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Invisible 12-Hour Energy Storage Project To Chase Oil Shale From Estonia” • The oil shale business depends on support of favorable energy policies, but Estonia is about to give it the boot. Instead, Estonia is turning to its considerable offshore wind resources and a massive long-duration, pumped hydro project, mostly hidden underground. [CleanTechnica]

Underground pumped storage (Courtesy of Zero Terrain)
Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “K-Electric Forecasts Cost Reduction With 640-MW Renewable Energy Boost” • K-Electric, the electricity provider for Karachi, projected a significant cut in electricity generation costs over the next two to three years after a planned addition of 640 MW of power derived from renewable energy sources, specifically solar and windpower. [The News International]

¶ “World EV Sales Now 13% Of World Auto Sales” • Global plugin vehicle registrations were up 3% in February 2024 compared to February 2023. There were 830,000 registrations, making it possibly the last month with fewer than one million sales per month ever for plugin EVs. Year to date, plugin EV market share was at 14% (9% battery EV). [CleanTechnica]

BYD Qin Plus EV (Quzhouliulian, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Europe Crafts Plan Against China’s Solar Supremacy” • China’s grip on the green tech industry, including solar panels, electric vehicles, and batteries is causing concern worldwide. The US and Europe are wary of China’s overwhelming production supported by huge subsidies to its companies. Europe is aiming to achieve solar sovereignty. [Microgrid Media]

¶ “China’s Quiet Energy Revolution: The Switch From Nuclear To Renewable Energy” • In late 2011 China’s National Energy Administration announced that China would add up to 300 GW of nuclear capacity over the next ten to twenty years. Now it aims for nuclear energy to supply 15% of China’s total electricity demand by 2035. [Pearls and Irritations]

Guangdong nuclear plant (IAEA Imagebank, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

US:

¶ “Amid Legal Challenges, SEC Pauses Its Climate Rule” • The US Securities and Exchange Commission is pausing implementation of its new climate disclosure rule while it defends the regulation in court. The rule, which was voted into place in March, requires some public companies in the US to report their greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks. [ABC News]

¶ “$19 Million For Innovative Solar Panel Installation Over Canals” • The Interior Department announced a $19 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to install solar panels over irrigation canals in California, Oregon, and Utah. This reduces evaporation of needed water while it increases clean energy. [CleanTechnica]

Solar PVs over a canal (Courtesy of Turlock Irrigation District)

¶ “$46 Million Available for Clean Transportation Research, Development, Demonstration, And Deployment” • The US DOE announced $45.8 million in new funding for projects that will advance research, development, demonstration, and deployment critical to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Geothermal Capacity Set To Grow by 1,900% by 2050” • In March, the US DOE announced it would invest $60 million in funding to demonstrate the efficacy and scalability of enhanced geothermal systems to access underground heat to be used as renewable energy. The DOE said it expects geothermal capacity to supply 10% of US electricity by 2050. [OilPrice.com]

Have a pleasantly useful day.

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April 5 Energy News

Opinion:

¶ “Ego, Greed, And The Hertz EV Debacle” • Bloomberg Hyperdrive is out with the saga of how some self-important Wall Street bozos totally mismanaged the Hertz campaign to make electric cars part of its fleet. It is a classic tale of idiots with more money than brains moving too fast and breaking things, with no thought to the consequences. [CleanTechnica]

Hertz rental Teslas

World:

¶ “EVs Take 91.5% Share In Norway” • March’s auto market saw plugin EVs take 91.5% share in Norway, up from 91.1% in March of last year. Battery EVs alone took almost 90% share. Overall auto volume was 9,750 units, 50% down year over year, and the lowest March in 15 years. The Tesla Model Y was again Norway’s best selling vehicle. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Roam’s Electric Motorcycles Will Soon Be Available In 30 Stores In Kenya” • The electric motorcycle scene in Kenya is starting to get very exciting now as a lot of the startups that have been doing pilot programs over the years are now transitioning to early commercialization of their products. Roam Air electric motorcycle is a leader. [CleanTechnica]

Roam electric motorcycle (Courtesy of Roam)

¶ “Eastern Railway Installs 1-MW Rooftop Solar Plant” • Eastern Railway has installed a 1-MW rooftop solar power plant at the Asansol Railway Workshop in West Bengal. The installation of solar power is part of Eastern Railway’s larger renewable energy strategy, which aims at harnessing clean energy sources to power its operations. [Construction World]

¶ “AutoFlight Delivers First Electric Air Taxi To Customer In Japan” • AutoFlight has achieved a significant milestone by officially delivering its first Prosperity aircraft to a customer in Japan, marking the world’s inaugural delivery of a civilian ton-class eVTOL aircraft. The five-seater Prosperity aircraft went to a commercial operator. [CleanTechnica]

AutoFlight Prosperity (AutoFlight image)

¶ “Investment Deficit Puts Planet On Path To Miss 1.5°C, Study Finds” • A lack of investment in green energy has left the world on track to overshoot the 1.5°C temperature increase that many scientists regard as a critical threshold in global efforts to contain climate change. REN21, a renewable energy think tank, published the finding. [Insurance Journal]

¶ “Ballarat Community Group Looks At ‘Microgrid Model On Steroids’ To Power City” • The Ballarat Energy Network, together with over twenty of the Victorian community’s largest businesses and industries, will start a project that could see Ballarat become the first regional city in Australia to be powered by 100% locally generated renewable energy. [pv magazine Australia]

Ballarat (Ballarat Council image)

US:

¶ “Power Forward Communities Awarded $2 Billion For Home Decarbonization” • Power Forward Communities was awarded a $2 billion, seven-year National Clean Investment Fund grant from the EPA for funding affordable residential decarbonization throughout the country, with a specific focus on low income and disadvantaged communities. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ford Settles It: EV Gloom And Doom Was Premature” • Ford has adopted a cautionary approach that seems to be aimed at managing expectations for the near term. Still, the mysterious “skunkworks” low-cost EV project remains in play over the longer term, raising the possibility of a Model-T scale speedup in EV adoption. [CleanTechnica]

Ford Model T (Rmhermen, public domain)

¶ “Study Examines Cost Competitiveness of Zero-Emission Trucks” • A recent study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) explored how the total cost of driving for zero-emission and diesel Medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles could evolve over time under different scenarios, from the present day to 2050. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Leeward Energy Starts Operations At Huge South Texas Solar Project” • Dallas-based Leeward Renewable Energy completed construction and commenced operations at its 200-MW Horizon Solar Project in South Central Texas. The project will provide Verizon Communications with renewable energy under a power purchase agreement. [Dallas Innovates]

Horizon Solar Project (Leeward Renewable Energy image)

¶ “More Power, More Water: Solar-Over-Canal Projects Are Coming To California” • California is pioneering innovations to generate clean electricity while conserving water. The state is teaming up with the Biden Administration on a solar-over-canal pilot project to clean solar power and transform the state’s water system. [California State Portal]

¶ “Plans Filed For New Jersey’s Garden State Energy Path Grid Upgrade” • National Grid Ventures and Con Edison Transmission have submitted plans to build transmission infrastructure that will connect offshore wind power to the New Jersey electricity grid. Garden State Energy Path will be able to carry 6 GW of electricity from four wind farms. [reNews]

Jersey City (Jonathan Roger, Unsplash)

¶ “California Publishes $6 Billion Transmission Plan” • The California Independent System Operator has recommended 26 new grid projects at an estimated cost of $6.1 billion. The first phase includes $4.59 billion for three transmission lines to deliver energy from floating turbines off Humboldt County, in the state’s North Coast area. [reNews]

¶ “California’s Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant’s $1.1 Billion Federal Funding Challenged” • Friends of the Earth, an environmental advocacy group, has sued the US Energy Department seeking to block $1.1 billion in federal funding that aims to help California’s PG&E continue running its aging Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. [Reuters]

Have an unabashedly splendid day.

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April 4 Energy News

Science and Technology:

¶ “MIT Engineers Design Artificial Reef To Protect Coastlines And Marine Species” • MIT calls it an “architected” reef. It is a sustainable offshore structure engineered to mimic the wave buffering effects of a natural reef while also providing pockets of safety for fish and other marine life. It breaks up incoming waves, dissipating most of their energy. [CleanTechnica]

Graphic of artificial Reef (MIT News image)

¶ “How Mountains Could Store Mountains Of Clean Energy” • Mountains, or even hills, cliffs, and flat-topped buttes, could soon store a whole lot of clean energy. These vertically blessed places are ideal spots for a well-established form of energy storage that is getting renewed attention: pumped storage hydropower. Now NREL has a cost-estimation tool. [NREL]

World:

¶ “Digital Battery Passports Coming to EU” • Starting in February 2027, every new traction battery, two-wheeled vehicle battery, and industrial battery with a capacity of over 2 kWh that is sold in the EU will need a digital battery passport. There are several reasons for this, including transparency and sustainability in the battery value chain. [CleanTechnica]

Small traction battery (Kumpan Electric, Unsplash)

¶ “EVs At 58.1% Share In Sweden – The Volvo EX30 Took The #2 Spot” • March’s auto market saw plugin EVs at a 58.1% share in Sweden, down YOY from 59.9%. Plugin volumes were down YOY for battery EVs, but up slightly for plugin hybrids. Overall auto volume was 23,891 units, down 21% YOY. The Tesla Model Y was the month’s bestselling battery EV. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tesla Rules In Europe – Europe EV Sales Report” • Some 202,000 plugin vehicles were registered in February in Europe, which is +10% YOY. But the growth rate was the same in the overall market, so the EV market share did not grow. February’s plugin vehicle share of the overall European auto market was 20% (13% battery EVs). [CleanTechnica]

Citroën ë-C3 (Citroën image)

¶ “Malaysian Player Targets 2-GW Renewables Portfolio For Australia” • Malaysian engineering and infrastructure company Gamuda has announced it will shift its focus in Australia to the clean energy and renewables infrastructure market, laying out plans to build a portfolio of 1 to 2 GW of solar and wind projects in the next five years. [pv magazine Australia]

¶ “Renewables Failing To Keep Pace With Energy Demand” • A report from REN21 found that persistent obstacles prevent renewables from keeping pace with rising energy demand. This leads to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Renewables are increasing in the overall energy mix, but they are not replacing coal, oil, and gas at the pace required. [reNews]

View from the top of a wind turbine (WindEurope image)

¶ “EU Clears Greek Aid For 813 MW Of PV With Storage ” • The European Commission approved €1 billion of Greek measures under EU state-aid rules to support two solar projects, one with lithium-ion batteries and one with molten-salt thermal storage. The Faethon Project and the Seli Project are both to be operating by mid-2025. [pv magazine International]

¶ “EU Carbon Market Emissions Fall Record 15.5% As Renewable Power Soars” • Carbon dioxide emissions regulated under the EU’s Emissions Trading System fell by a record 15.5% in 2023 as renewable power output soared, the European Commission said. Around 45% of the EU’s output of greenhouse gases is regulated by the EU ETS. [Reuters]

Coal-burning plant (Daniel Moqvist, Unsplash)

¶ “Russia Says Backup Power Line To Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Has Gone Down” • A backup power line supplying the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine has gone down, the Russian-controlled management of the plant said. The plant relies on external power to keep its nuclear material cool and prevent a catastrophic accident. [Reuters]

US:

¶ “US Audi EV Sales Grow 29%, BMW EV Sales Grow 63%” • Tesla sales may be drooping, but that is not an industry-wide problem. The two automakers most similar to Tesla in class and vehicle price are Audi and BMW, and they just reported that their full battery electric vehicle sales in the US grew 29% and 63%, year-over-year, respectively. [CleanTechnica]

BMW G26E i4 (Damian B Oh, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “US DOE Releases First Ever Federal Blueprint to Decarbonize America’s Buildings Sector” • The Biden-Harris Administration just released Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050: A National Blueprint for the Buildings Sector. It presents the first sector-wide strategy for building decarbonization to be developed by the federal government. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Argonne Spotlights Projects That Give Equitable Access To Sustainable Transportation In Underserved Communities” • In electrifying the transportation system, the US is committed to giving all residents fair and equitable access to clean, affordable transportation. And it is critical that underserved communities have a strong voice in planning. [CleanTechnica]

Public charging station (EVBOX image)

¶ “Senators Strike Compromise, Advance Bill Requiring Extra Public Meeting On Renewable Energy Projects” • Nebraska state lawmakers reached a compromise on a bill that was criticized as pulling up “the welcome mat” on renewable energy projects. John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union said, “It’s bad economic policy.” [Nebraska Examiner]

¶ “PSEG Tells NRC It Plans On Renewing Licenses For Three South Jersey Nuclear Plants” • PSEG Nuclear LLC has notified the NRC that it plans to seek renewal of licenses for its three nuclear power plants in South Jersey. They provide nearly half the state’s electricity and are [claimed to be] integral components of New Jersey’s clean-energy goals. [NJ Spotlight News]

Have a sufficiently amusing day.

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April 3 Energy News

Opinion:

¶ “Tesla Marketing Campaign Takes A Slightly Traditional Turn” • Tesla swore off traditional advertising early on, depending on word-of-mouth referals. But these days, paid ads for Tesla are popping up across social platforms, including on Facebook, YouTube, and lots of other places. What’s behind the Tesla marketing turnabout? [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model Y (Pontus Jerand Wernhammar, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Flixtrain, Trainline, And T&E Call For Reduced Rail Tolls To Help Make Train Travel More Accessible” • Travelling by rail instead of flying can decrease emissions by up to -97% on specific routes. Reducing flying and car use is urgent to mitigate climate change and live within the Paris Agreement to limit temperature increases to well below 2°C. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Adani Green Energy Has Over 10 GW Of Renewable Capacity Operating” • Adani Green Energy Ltd has reached an operating renewable energy portfolio of 10,934 MW, the largest in India. AGEL’s operating renewable energy portfolio consists of 7,393 MW of solar, 1,401 MW of wind and 2,140 MW of wind-solar hybrid capacity. [pv magazine India]

Adani Green Energy wind-solar plant (AGEL image)

¶ “Mytilineos Inks 210-MW Solar Offtake Deal In Greece” • Based in Greece, Mytilineos and Karatzis, a manufacturing firm, signed a 210-MW power purchase agreement for the energy generated by a 262-MW solar portfolio. Mytilineos will be able to take 80% of the energy produced by the portfolio, which has 35 projects in Larissa prefecture. [Power Engineering International]

¶ “Portuguese Utility Says Renewables Covered 91% Of Demand In March” • Renewable energy covered 91% of Portugal’s demand for electricity in March, according to data from the grid operator. Hydropower provided 47%, followed by wind at 31%, solar at 6%, and biomass at 5%. Natural gas plants generated the remaining share. [pv magazine International]

Solar + horses (Voltalia image)

¶ “Alice Springs Roadmap To Renewable Energy Calls For Urgent Action” • The central Australian town of Alice Springs is on track for 50% renewable power by 2030 but a report says urgent action and investment is needed to integrate the increasing amounts of renewable energy, including solar PV and battery energy storage, into its isolated grid. [pv magazine Australia]

¶ “Russian Ship Carrying Nuclear Fuel For US Nuclear Power Plant Detained In German Port” • Atlantic Navigator II has been held in dock at the German seaport of Rostock for three weeks after enriched uranium was found on board. The ship visited the port because of engine problems but may not leave due to a violation of EU sanctions. [Українська правда]

Rostock (A Savin, Copyleft)

US:

¶ “Tesla Sales Tumble Nearly 9%, Largest Drop In Four Years, As Competition Heats Up And Demand Slows” • Tesla sales fell sharply last quarter as competition increased worldwide, EV sales growth slowed, and price cuts failed to lure more buyers. Tesla said it delivered 386,810 vehicles worldwide in the first quarter, down almost 9% year on year. [ABC News]

¶ “Getting Solar And Battery Storage For Your Home Is Now As Simple As Ordering Pizza (In Four States)” • After its successful debut in Texas last year, BLUETTI is now extending its services to California, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. This gives homeowners a seamless path to energy independence and reducing utility expenses. [CleanTechnica]

BLUETTI Solar+ (BLUETTI screen-shot)

¶ “The Lure Of Federal Money Is Too Strong For Virginia And Youngkin To Pass Up” • The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program provides $5 billion in grants to states, territories, tribes, and local governments to develop and execute plans for reducing GHG emissions and other air pollution. Virginia, under Governor Younkin, is taking part. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Gives Go-Ahead For 2.6-GW New England Wind” • The US government announced its approval of Avangrid’s 2,600-MW New England Wind offshore wind project. With the approval, the Department of the Interior has approved more than 10 GW of capacity from offshore wind projects. It said this is enough to power nearly 4 million homes. [reNews]

Offshore wind turbines (insung yoon, Unsplash)

¶ “Continuance Of Coal’: Rocky Mountain Power Updates Energy Plan” • Rocky Mountain Power’s resource plan of March 2023 said Utah’s last two coal-fired power plants would retire by 2032. Now, an updated plan says the plants will run until 2036 and 2042. The change is based on court decisions against the EPA and bills in Utah’s legislature. [KSL News]

¶ “Doe Funds Heated Sand Energy Storage Project Pilot” • NREL researchers are working on a multi-day energy storage system using heated sand have developed a prototype. Now it has set the stage for a pilot project. Computer modeling has shown that a commercial-scale system would retain more than 95% of its heat for at least five days. [pv magazine USA]

Please click on the image to enlarge it. (NREL image)

¶ “NRC Underestimates Climate Risks To Nuclear Power, GAO Says” • A Government Accountability Office report found that the NRC uses historical data, rather than climate projections, to identify and assess risk in initial licensing processes and during safety reviews for plants. That may underestimate how weather could affect nuclear power plants. [E&E News]

¶ “Connecticut’s Millstone at high risk for flooding in Category 4 hurricane due to climate change” • A report by the federal Government Accountability Office identifies the Millstone Power Plant in Waterford as one of a half dozen nuclear power plants in the US that face a high risk of flood due to a storm surge from a Category 4 hurricane. [CT Insider]

Have an entirely impeccable day.

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April 2 Energy News

Opinion:

¶ “Spent Nuclear Fuel Mismanagement Poses A Major Threat To The United States. Here’s How” • The dangers of nuclear reactor meltdowns are well known. But spent fuel can also overheat and burn in a storage pool if its coolant water is lost. If this happens, there is a potential for releasing large amounts of radioactive material into the air. [Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists]

Nuclear power plant (Frédéric Paulussen, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Researchers In China Propose Non-Aqueous Manganese Metal Batteries” • Researchers in China say they may have found how to make manganese batteries that have higher energy density and cost less than any based on lithium. Manganese is far more abundant in the Earth’s crust, so batteries that use it can cost less than those made with lithium. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “One In Four EVs Sold In Europe This Year Will Be Made In China” • Almost a fifth (19.5%) of EVs sold in Europe last year were made in China, and this is on track to reach a quarter (25%) in 2024, according to new analysis by Transport & Environment. The EU is considering import tariffs to counter China’s subsidies for its EV industry. [CleanTechnica]

Xiaomi SU7 EV (Xiaomi image)

¶ “UK Energy Production Hits Record Low – Biggest Drop Since 1948” • In 2023, UK energy production declined 9%, reaching its lowest level since records began in 1948. Government data show that production was down by 36% from 2010 and 66% from its peak in 1999. Oil production hit a record low, while production of gas hit its second lowest level. [Energy Live News]

¶ “Imminent Insect Demise Means Global Food Web Is On Verge Of Collapse” • Buried in the late Friday afternoon news cycle, the most recent annual assessment from the World Entomology Body on the health of insects indicates that loss of whole insect communities is imminent. This would have disastrous effects for the global food web. [CleanTechnica]

Lavender Bee (Bennilover, CC BY-ND 2.0, cropped)

¶ “China Could Drive Africa’s Renewable Energy Revolution, Report” • China is Africa’s biggest bilateral trading partner after financing billions of dollars worth of infrastructure projects. It has an opportunity to drive an energy revolution in Africa but must reverse nearly two decades of neglect of green investments there, a report shows. [SABC News]

¶ “SJVN Launches 1.2-GW Renewables-Plus-Storage Tender” • SJVN invited bids to supply 600 MW of firm and dispatchable power from renewable energy projects with energy storage, with an option of additional capacity up to 600 MW. The projects can be located anywhere in India but must connect to the interstate transmission system. [pv magazine India]

Solar-plus-storage (Tesla image)

¶ “Lightyears Lands New Funds For Trio Of Community-Scale Solar Farms” • Lightyears Solar said NZ$6 million ($3.6 million) of new capital will help ramp up the pace of its program to build three solar farms totaling 18 MW of capacity in the Wairarapa and Canterbury regions on New Zealand’s North and South islands respectively. [pv magazine Australia]

¶ “India Hydropower Output Records Steepest Fall In Nearly Four Decades” • India’s hydroelectricity output fell at the steepest pace in at least 38 years over the year ending March 31, a Reuters analysis of government data showed. Erratic rainfall and high demand forced further dependence on coal-fired power, a major water consumer. [The Globe and Mail]

Jalhaput Dam (zskm10, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “US DOE Expands Support for Community-Led Clean Energy Transitions” • The DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory released the first Clean Energy to Communities annual report. It highlights more than 200 US communities that benefited from the program as it gave them support through the transition to clean energy. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “60% Of EVs Are Expected To Be In Suburban Areas In 2030” • Sixty percent of the 33 million EVs expected in the US by 2030 are projected to be in suburban areas, according to a report from the NREL. Of the remainder, 20% will be in rural locations and another 20% in urban areas. The charging network needs for EVs will differ by area. [CleanTechnica]

Bidirectional EV charging (Image courtesy of GM)

¶ “Virginia Greenlights 764 MW Of Solar Sites” • The Virginia State Corporation Commission approved more than a dozen solar projects, with 764 MW of capacity. The projects will output enough energy to power nearly 200,000 homes at peak output. Four projects will belong to Dominion Energy Virginia, which will buy the output of and the others. [reNews]

¶ “New Texas Fuel Cell Gigafactory Pours More Cold Water On Clean Power Foes” • In Texas, public officials have been pulling out all the stops to obstruct clean energy investment, but the hits just keep on coming. In the latest development, Ballard Power Systems is moving forward with plans to set up a 3-GW fuel cell factory in Rockwell. [CleanTechnica]

Fuel cell electric bus (Photo courtesy of Ballard)

¶ “Hawaiian Electric Launches New Rooftop Solar And Energy Storage Programs” • Hawaiian Electric, which serves all of the islands except Kauai, is making major changes to its rooftop solar and storage programs. The new program was approved by the Public Utilities Commission. It replaces all previous rooftop solar programs except Net Metering. [Spectrum News]

¶ “Roadmap To achieving Puerto Rico’s Goal Of 100% Renewable Energy By 2050” • NREL reported that Puerto Rico has 20 GW of utility-scale solar potential, mostly along the coasts, and 20 GW of distributed solar potential. Just 10 GW of solar could meet Puerto Rico’s needs, Solar + Energy Storage Association president PJ Wilson estimated. [pv magazine USA]

Have a justifiably delighted day.

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April 1 Energy News

Opinion:

¶ “Turkey Thinks Nuclear Energy Is Renewable Energy” • Turkey considers nuclear energy renewable energy. Being on the side of the planet doesn’t pay there. You can go to jail for speaking up against pollution or high cancer rates in children. Turkey’s leader supports Hamas and terror groups publicly. Is this a society you want using nuclear power? [Green Prophet]

Sunset in Istanbul (Osman Köycü, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Carbonfuture Launches Carbon Removal Sensor Suite Partnership With Syncraft And Others” • Carbonfuture has announced a CO₂ removal (CDR) sensor suite, which will be used with Puro.Earth, a CDR standards and certification body, and with Syncraft and PYREG, both biomass pyrolysis facilities manufacturers. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Farmers In Germany Ready To Embrace Agrivoltaics” • In Germany, researchers associated with the world renowned Fraunhofer ISE published a study designed to shed light on what factors make agrivoltaics – the practice of combining solar panels with farming – attractive to those who are actually engaged in farming. [CleanTechnica]

Agrivoltaics (Connexus image, cropped)

¶ “£16 Billion Of Scottish Wind Blown Away: Green Power Is Going To Waste Because It Can’t Be Sent South Of Border” • The UK may be a wind super-power, but there is a problem because there are not enough cables to take renewable electricity from Scotland, where most of the windpower is produced, to England, where most of it is needed. [This is Money]

Australia:

¶ “Big Talk, Little Action: The Energy Future In Western Australia Is At A Crossroads Between Gas And Renewables” • Big, bold announcements have given the impression that a wave of new renewable energy projects, underpinned by significant state investment, are in the works for Western Australia. Sadly, the reality is very different. [RenewEconomy]

Offshore oil and gas rig (Woodside image)

¶ “Sydney Zoo Teams With EnergyAustralia For Rooftop Solar Solution” • EnergyAustralia and Sydney Zoo in Eastern Creek partnered to install 602 solar panels on the rooftops of eight zoo buildings. The system is expected to generate up to half of the zoo’s peak electricity needs during optimum conditions and to reduce carbon emissions. [pv magazine Australia]

¶ “Billion-Dollar Investment Could Revive Australian Solar Manufacturing” • At a stroke, Australia’s federal government proposes to directly invest in making solar PVs, the technology Australia will rely on most to generate its electricity. By 2050, solar should provide most of our electricity – but only if we have enough panels. [pv magazine Australia]

Solar PV manufacture (Sundrive image)

¶ “Report Says Rooftop Solar Key To Cutting Climate Pollution” • Solar generation, battery storage, transmission and electrification can future-proof Australia’s economy while reducing climate pollution 75%, says independent organisation Climate Council in its ‘Seize the Decade’ report. It offers targets to attain that goal in six years. [pv magazine Australia]

US:

¶ “Smart Siting Of Offshore Wind Protects Right Whales In Gulf of Maine” • The final Wind Energy Area identified for potential offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine is principally located away from habitats of higher importance to endangered North Atlantic right whales. Smart siting will help the industry advance responsibly. [CleanTechnica]

North Atlantic right whales (NOAA Fisheries image)

¶ “Colorado Introduces New Easy E-Bike Credit” • If you want to buy an e-bike in Colorado, getting a credit for the purchase could not be much easier. The instructions have three steps: (1) You must live in Colorado, (2) buy an e-bike at a participating bike shop, (3) and you get $450 off. There are limitations, like that you can only do this once per year. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tesla Seems To Be Focusing On National Park Access With Supercharger Network: Jennifer Sensiba” • In two other recent articles, I spotted some upcoming Tesla Supercharger stations that will greatly improve access to national parks. Now, after seeing a third, and then fourth, fifth, and sixth examples, I see a pattern in Tesla’s behavior. [CleanTechnica]

Grand Tetons (Nate Foong, Unsplash)

¶ “Columbia University Senate Approves New Master Of Science In Climate Finance” • The University Senate approved a Master of Science program in climate finance, a collaboration between the Climate School and Business School. The University Senate passed the proposal with 63 votes in favor, zero opposed, and three abstentions. [Columbia Daily Spectator]

¶ “Renewable Parts Launches First Overseas Operations Base In USA” • Renewable Parts, a leader in refurbishing wind turbine component parts, has launched its first overseas operations base in Houston, Texas. Renewable Parts has more than a decade of experience in wind turbine parts refurbishment. Texas has 30 GW of installed capacity. [Energy Global]

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March 31 Energy News

Science and Technology:

¶ “The Real Value Of Electrifying Non-Powered Dams” • Some non-power dams are suitable for conversion to generate power, but few have been in the last 20 years due to the complexity and concerns about economics. Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory developed a way to calculate the economic value of a converted NPD. [CleanTechnica]

Allegheny River Lock and Dam 2 (Andrew Byrne, US ACE)

World:

¶ “33% Plugin Vehicle Market Share In China – February 2024 Sales Report” • Plugin vehicles are all the rage in the Chinese auto market, but Chinese New Year celebrations, which always slow things down, happened this year in February. There were 440,000 EV sales, which is down 9% year over year. The overal market had 1.33 million sales. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “I Want To Tackle It In A Big Way’: Meet The Nigerian Women Spearheading Solar Projects” • In Fadeyi’s childhood, she only had intermittent electricity, but she got a degree in chemistry and training in solar installation. Then She started a non-profit dedicated to climate advocacy and providing clean energy to poor communities. [Euronews.com]

Solar panels in Nigeria (EtinPower image)

¶ “NatPower UK To Invest $12.8 Billion Into Battery Storage ‘Gigaparks’” • A renewable energy developer announced it would invest almost $12.8 billion into a massive battery storage project in the UK. NatPower, a UK startup, plans to submit planning proposals for three ‘gigaparks,’which it hopes to follow up with 10 more parks in 2025. [OilPrice.com]

¶ “Significant Renewable Energy Gains In 2023 Put Global Goal Within Reach” • The world added 50% more renewable energy in 2023 than 2022, putting the global goal of tripling clean energy in the next six years within reach, experts have said. The IEA made the announcement after analysis of current policies and market developments. [Yahoo News UK]

Wind turbines (Bastian Pudill, Unsplash)

¶ “Japan, China Hold Expert Consultation on Fukushima Daiichi Treated Water Ocean Release” • The governments of Japan and China held an expert consultation meeting regarding the release of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean. The Japanese said that monitoring results showed no impact on seawater. [The Japan News]

US:

¶ “Clean Energy, One Community At A Time” • Many places are highly dependent on fossil fuels, but they might not have the time, experience, or other resources to convert to sustainable energy. Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory provide technical assistance research that can help communities pursue sustainable energy options. [CleanTechnica]

House in Alaska (Courtesy of NREL)

¶ “Navajo And Hopi Country Deserve More EV Charging” • EV charging dead zones still exist in the US, some with no plans in sight to improve the situation. Here, we look into Navajo and Hopi tribal lands, and why it’s important to address the problem, not only for the people who live there, but for all of the people who struggle to visit the region. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How Platte River Power Authority Is Accelerating Its Energy Transition” • Community-owned Platte River Power Authority is a wholesale electricity provider in northern Colorado. It has a policy goal to decarbonize by 2030. It was the first utility in the state to bring windpower online, and plans to grow its windpower sevenfold by 2025. [Longmont Times-Call]

Platte River wind turbines (Platte River Power Authority)

¶ “The US Federal Gov’t Attempts To Tackle Cement And Concrete Decarbonization” • Decarbonization of Cement and concrete is the object of $6 billion in grants by the US DOE. In total, 33 projects across more than 20 states will help accelerate the commercial scale demonstration of emerging industrial decarbonization technologies. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Comprehensive Analysis Of Texas Solar Farm Hail Storm Aftermath” • On March 15, 2024, a powerful hailstorm hit Fort Bend County, Texas. It damaged thousands of solar panels at the Fighting Jays Solar Farm. One lesson is that storm damage is getting worse. But there are ways to take that into account when new projects are developed. [Microgrid Media]

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March 30 Energy News

Science and Technology:

¶ “The Solution To Energy Storage May Be Beneath Your Feet” • Thermal energy storage shows promise as a low-cost alternative to existing storage technologies, and storing energy in solid particles such as sand provides a ready answer, with very few geological restrictions. And after all, sand, like air and water, is just about everywhere. [CleanTechnica]

Sand (Keith Hardy, Unsplash)

¶ “Study: Since 1979 Climate Change Has Made Heat Waves Last Longer” • Since 1979, global heat waves are moving 20% more slowly, meaning more people stay hot longer. They are also happening 67% more often, a study in Science Advances says. The study found the highest temperatures in the heat waves are warmer than 40 years ago. [Boston.com]

World:

¶ “Tropical Cyclone Makes Landfall In Northern Madagascar” • A tropical cyclone swept across Madagascar killing eighteen people. The island has been hit by ten strong tropical cyclones since the start of 2022. The southern part of the island is still getting over its worst drought in forty years. Parts of the island are facing a hunger crisis due to extreme weather. [ABC News]

Tropical storm (Jeremy Bishop, Unsplash)

¶ “Invest With This Kiva-Like Nonprofit And Help Build Solar Projects In The Global South” • Kiva.org is a site where people can chip in to provide micro-finance around the world. Now there’s another nonprofit working to harness the power of micro-investments to help fund solar projects in the Global South, and it has an approach very Kiva’s. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “IMO Agrees To First Tax On Shipping Emissions” • The International Maritime Organization, an agency of the UN, has agreed to impose a fee on every ton of shipping emissions from oceangoing cargo vessels. The fee could lead to big changes in the shipping industry while raising a significant amount of money, the Times reports. [CleanTechnica]

Container ship (Courtesy of Volvo Car Group)

¶ “Solar Projects Go Live In Gujarat” • Adani Green Energy, a subsidiary of the Adani Group, has started operations for its 775 MW of solar power projects in Gujarat. The company confirmed the projects were operating after obtaining necessary approvals. The new capacity is considered significant for India’s renewable energy sector. [Manufacturing Today India]

¶ “India On Track To Surpass 500-GW Renewable Target By 2030: Govt Official” • India is on track to surpass its 500-GW renewable target by 2030, said Sudeep Jain, Additional Secretary, Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, while speaking at an industry event. He noted that 2023 saw the most rapid growth in renewable capacity yet. [BW Businessworld]

Solar power (Nuno Marques, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Major Storm To Hit California” • After a storm brought 10 to 13 inches of snow to California and Utah, a bigger storm is on its way to Southern California with flash flooding, strong winds, and heavy snow. Numerous weather alerts for California, Nevada, and Arizona include flood watches for Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Barbara. [ABC News]

¶ “EPA Sets New Emissions Standards For Heavy-Duty Vehicles In Effort To Fight Climate Change” • The EPA announced its new emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles. The agency claims the new emissions standards will avoid 1 billion tons of GHG emissions by 2055. The standards will go into effect for vehicles being made in 2027-2032. [ABC News]

Scania truck (Gabriel Santos, Unsplash)

¶ “Made-In-The-USA Monocrystalline Solar Cells: Not A Dream Anymore” • When the US solar firm Suniva ceased operating in 2017, it looked like the end for monocrystalline manufacturing in the US. Nevertheless, if all goes according to plan, the US solar industry will finally get its hands on monocrystalline solar cells that are made in the USA. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Curbside EV Charging In NYC Is A Huge Success” • New York City has a goal of being “net-zero” by 2050. Clearly, that’s not going to happen with zillions of vehicles powered by infernal combustion engines on its roads. Curbside EV charging may help. FLO, a Canadian company, has run 100 curbside chargers in a pilot program since 2021. [CleanTechnica]

Curbside EV charging (Image courtesy of FLO)

¶ “Enel Starts Construction Of Ables Springs Solar-Plus-Storage Project In Texas” • Enel North America began construction of the Ables Springs solar-plus-storage project in Kaufman County, Texas. The project has a 186 MW solar PV system and a 115-MW, 169-MWh battery system. Ables Springs is Enel’s 17th renewable energy project in Texas. [Solar Builder]

¶ “US Renewables’ Installed Generating Capacity Beats Coal” • Solar capacity additions hit the ground running in 2024, pushing renewables’ installed generating capacity past coal, US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission data shows. Solar accounted for 2,527 MW of new installed generating capacity in January of this year, 87.3% of the total. [Electrek]

Wind turbines (Waldemar, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Clean Energy Connector Pilot Launches In Illinois, New Mexico, And Washington DC” • The US DOE and Department of Health and Human Services are partnering on a pilot program of the Clean Energy Connector to connect low-income households with community solar projects. The pilot is starting in Illinois, New Mexico, and Washington, DC. [pv magazine USA]

¶ “Uranium Is Being Mined Near The Grand Canyon” • The largest US uranium producer is ramping up work just south of Grand Canyon National Park on a long-contested project, as global instability and growing demand drive uranium prices higher. Environmentalists and Native American leaders are demanding more regulatory oversight. [MSN]

Have a totally okey-dokey day.

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March 29 Energy News

Opinion:

¶ “The EV Revolution Has Passed A Tipping Point” • By the end of last year, sales of electric cars reached 5% or more of the new car market in 31 countries. The trajectory laid out by countries that had reached that point in the past shows that EVs sales can grow from 5% to 25% of new cars in under four years, according to Bloomberg. [CleanTechnica]

Togg T10X, made in Turkey (Togg image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Extreme Temperatures Hold Untapped Potential For Solar And Wind Energy” • Conditions that come with the intense hot and cold weather that strains power grids may provide greater opportunities to capture solar and wind energy, according to a study led by Washington State University. The intense weather has more energy. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “QuantumScape Brushes Off Solid-State Battery Skeptics” • QuantumScape is readying a solid state battery. QuantumScape’s battery is not solid throughout. The key to the technology is an anode-free manufacturing process, in which the cell is fabricated in a discharged state. The anode assembles itself during its first charging cycle. [CleanTechnica]

Mock-up of a QuantumScape QSE-5 (QuantumScape image)

World:

¶ “UK Records ‘Highest Ever Share Of Electricity Generation By Renewables’” • The UK saw its highest ever share of electricity generation by renewables last year, at 51.5%, Government figures show. In energy trend data just released, the Energy Department said this came as fossil fuel electricity generation saw its lowest share on record. [Evening Standard]

¶ “China Files WTO Complaint Over US EV Incentives” • From the time President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, it was inevitable. The Chinese empire struck back by initiating dispute settlement proceedings against the US at the World Trade Organization to safeguard its interests in the EV industry, the Chinese mission said. [CleanTechnica]

BYD’s first cargo ship (BYD image)

¶ “Yellen Plans To Confront China For ‘Unfair’ Clean Energy Subsidies” • US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen revealed that she intends to warn Beijing that its national underwriting for energy and other companies is creating oversupply and distorting global markets, when she pays the country an official visit. China filed a complaint at the WTO against the US. [OilPrice.com]

¶ “Canada Continues Massive Financial Support For Fossil Fuels” • Environmental Defence, a Canadian non-profit, published a report taking the country’s government to task for its continued financial support of fossil fuels. The group claims that in 2023, Canada gave over $18.5 billion in financial support to fossil fuel and petrochemical companies. [CleanTechnica]

Canada’s Fossil Fuel Subsidies (Environmental Defense)

¶ “Australia Can Reach 94% Renewable Power By End Of Decade: Climate Council CEO” • Amanda McKenzie, the Climate Council CEO, says Australia is at “40% renewable power” and can get to “94%” during this decade. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a $1 billion investment to boost the manufacturing of solar panels in Australia. [Gold Coast Bulletin]

¶ “Eolus Made Investment Decision For Three Onshore Wind Projects In Sweden” • Eolus made an investment decision for wind power projects Fågelås, Boarp, and Dållebo totaling 88 MW. It signed an agreement for turbines with Vestas, and will start construction immediately. The projects are going into an area in need of electricity resources. [Energy Central]

Wind turbine (Raychel Sanner, Unsplash, cropped)

US:

¶ “More Than Half Of Water From Colorado River Used For Agriculture Industry, Report Finds” • More than half of the Colorado River’s total annual water flow is being used to irrigate agricultural land, a paper published in Communications Earth & Environment states. And all of the water is being used; none of it makes it to the ocean. [ABC News]

¶ “Governor Proposes Alternative Plan For Reducing Carbon Emissions” • Pennsylvania Gov Josh Shapiro has proposed a plan aimed at reducing power plant carbon emissions while requiring more electricity to come from renewable sources. Pennsylvania would become the first state to adopt its own carbon-pricing program, if the plan passes. [Bay Journal]

Pennsylvania Gov Josh Shapiro (Commonwealth Media Services)

¶ “Biden–Harris Administration Announces $62 Million To Cut US Battery Recycling Costs” • The DOE announced $62 million for seventeen projects funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to increase consumer participation in consumer electronics battery recycling as well as improving the economics of battery recycling. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Iowa Farm Is Running On Renewable Energy All-Year Round. Here’s How” • Jason Russell’s hog barn finished construction two decades ago, but the way it functions has changed since then, because the way farmers use energy is evolving. A wind turbine supplies 75% of the farm’s electricity, and a solar array on a third of an acre supplies the rest. [weareiowa.com]

Iowa (Tim Willis, Unsplash)

¶ “New Mexico Supreme Court Upholds Regulator’s Denial Of Renewable Energy Incentive For Electric Utility” • The New Mexico Supreme Court rejected a utility’s appeal for a financial incentive under a law requiring greater production of electricity from renewable energy sources. The opinion by the court was unanimous. [Los Alamos Daily Post]

¶ “‘Swarm’ Of UFOs Buzzed US Air Force Base As ‘Mystery Drones’ Spotted Near Nuclear Assets” • A “swarm” of mysterious drones has been spotted around a US Air Force base that is known to house nuclear assets. The objects are thought to have been controlled by a foreign power trying to gather information on America’s most important defence sites. [Irish Star]

Have an unequivocably beneficial day.

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March 28 Energy News

World:

¶ “Polar Ice Is Melting And Changing Earth’s Rotation. And It’s Messing With Time Itself” • One day in the next couple of years, everyone in the world will lose a second of their time. Exactly when that will happen is being influenced by humans, according to a study, as melting polar ice alters the Earth’s rotation and changes time itself. [CNN]

Polar ice at Iceland (Roxanne Desgagnés, Unsplash)

¶ “Norway Is Taking The Lead In Electric Trucks” • Norway has set a target for all new trucks sold in the country to be electric by 2030. To do that, many new charging stations of 1-MW capacity or more must be added. Enova is making 60 million kroner ($5.5 million) available to five Norwegian companies to install electric truck chargers in southern Norway. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “SSE Partners With Bord Na Móna On 800-MW Onshore Wind JV In Ireland” • Two of Ireland’s leading low-carbon energy companies, SSE and Bord na Móna, announced a 50:50 joint venture aimed to deliver up to 800 MW of new onshore wind energy for Ireland. The JV could invest more than €1 billion over the next decade in onshore wind projects. [SSE]

Ireland (Ainars Djatlevskis, Unsplash)

¶ “Solar Sunshot: Albanese Pledges $1 Billion To Take Australia From ‘Pit To Panel’” • Prime minister Anthony Albanese pledged A$1 billion in production subsidies and grants to build a solar supply chain on Australian soil. Albanese said Australia “should not be the last link in a global supply chain built on an Australian invention.” [RenewEconomy]

¶ “‘Historic Breakthrough’: China’s Installed Wind Turbine Cost Drops To One-Fifth Of The US In Green Energy Race” • Wind power is soaring ahead in China, with the installation price of turbines dropping nearly 45% thanks to economies of scale and technological advancements, according to government tender documents. [South China Morning Post]

Wind turbines (Thomas Reaubourg, Unsplash)

¶ “Urgent Action Needed: Tripling Renewable Energy By 2030, Warns IRENA Report” • The world faces a stark reality: A massive increase in renewable energy deployment is critical to avoid the worst of climate change, according to “Systemic Changes Needed to Triple Renewables by 2030,” a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency. [SolarQuarter]

US:

¶ “You Can Buy This Electric Luxury SUV For $25,000 Right Now. But There Might Be A Catch” • For sale: A brand new luxury electric SUV for the price of $25,000. There just might be a slight catch. The California-based electric SUV company Fisker faces a real possibility of bankruptcy. Its stock is hovering just over 2¢ per share, far below its 2021 peak of $28.50. [CNN]

Fisker Ocean (Alexander-93, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Massachusetts, Rhode Island, And Connecticut Receive Proposals For Offshore Wind Projects” • Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut received proposals for offshore wind projects as they hope to boost their reliance on the renewable source. They have an agreement allowing coordinated selection of offshore wind projects. [ABC News]

¶ “Ford’s Move Into Mass-Market Electric Vehicles – Smart With Stiff Competition” • The automotive industry has seen a big shift towards EVs driven by new technology, consumer preferences, and global efforts to combat climate change. Among traditional automakers, Ford has emerged as a frontrunner in embracing this transition. But it has challenges. [CleanTechnica]

Ford F-150 Lightning charging (Mariordo, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Heat Pumps Are Scaling Up And Taking On Big Industry” • Residential heat pumps deserve a lot of credit for driving the decarbonization train, but home-scaled systems are no match for industrial processes that require steam. The US DOE is on the prowl for a solution and just made a $145 million bet on heat pumps that generate steam. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Biden-Harris Administration Makes $1.5 Billion Conditional Commitment To Holtec Palisades To Support Recommission Of Michigan Nuclear Plant” • The US DOE announced the offer of a conditional commitment of up to $1.52 billion for a loan surety for Holtec Palisades to finance the restoration of the 800-MW Palisades Nuclear Plant. [CleanTechnica]

Palisades Nuclear Plant (US NRC, public domain)

¶ “Industrial Decarbonization Is Coming To A State Near You” • The US government announced $6 billion in grants that makers of metal, paper, and glass can use to reduce GHG emissions. The Biden-Harris administration is framing them as an opportunity to transform the US industrial sector and strengthen domestic manufacturing. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Last Coal Plants In New England To Close; Renewables Take Their Place” • The last coal producers in New England will shutter their doors permanently under an agreement reached with environmental groups and the EPA. Two plants in New Hampshire, Schiller and Merrimack, will voluntarily close down in 2025 and 2028, respectively. [The Hill]

Reddy Kilowatt on a booklet (Author unknown, public domain)

¶ “Walmart Funds Almost 1 GW In US Solar Power” • Walmart is funding almost two dozen new community solar projects and three long-term purchase agreements that will add almost 1 GW of zero-carbon energy to the US grid. That’s roughly enough energy to power 750,000 US homes. Walmart already had more than 600 renewable energy projects. [GreenBiz]

¶ “Washington Governor Urged To Veto $25 Million For Nuclear Power Project” • Environmentalists and tribal leaders want Gov Jay Inslee to veto a $25 million earmark in Washington’s capital budget for deploying next generation nuclear reactors. The funds are to go to Energy Northwest to develop small modular nuclear reactors in the state. [News From The States]

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March 27 Energy News

Opinion:

¶ “Renewables Are The Only Energy Solution That Can Avert Climate Disaster, Conference Told” • While it is the sovereign right and prerogative of nations to choose their energy mix, the arguments for adding new nuclear capacity are weak, according to the director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency, Francesco la Camera. [Daily Maverick]

Wind turbines (Karsten Würth, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “NOAA Calls For Urgent Geoengineering Investigation” • It is abundantly clear that we are not sufficiently slowing the pace of global heating. So the administrator of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said NOAA is starting to study the effects of likely techniques for geoengineering, including the ones involving the oceans. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Schools To Reopen In South Sudan After Two Weeks Of Extreme Heat” • South Sudan’s government said schools will reopen next week after being closed for two weeks due to heat. The health and education ministries said temperatures were expected to drop in the coming days. During the heat wave, the country’s highs were up to 45°C (113°F). [ABC News]

Family in South Sudan (David Atoroyo Sika, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Chinese EV Makers Challenging Market Leaders At Auto Show In Bangkok” • Chinese EV makers are showing off their latest models, including a flying car, at the Bangkok International Motor Show. BYD, XPeng, Great Wall Motors, and others are challenging longstanding market leaders like Toyota, Isuzu, and Ford, as they expand exports. [ABC News]

¶ “Offshore Wind Industry Wants To Shed Its Fossil-Fueled Workboats” • The offshore wind industry seems to want to go beyond producing carbon-free renewable energy. They are also replacing the fuels used by their working vessels. Electric power is on the menu as a long term solution, and alternative fuels are getting attention for now. [CleanTechnica]

Service operations vessel (Courtesy of ESVAGT)

¶ “There Are Now Visibly More Electric Motorcycles In Nairobi, Kenya” • Hundreds of thousands of internal combustion engine motorcycles are sold each year in Kenya. These continue to add enormous amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. But a number of startups are making electric motorcycles, and they are starting to make a difference. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Offshore Wind Race Heats Up In Baltic Sea, Russia Or Not” • Russia has a slim coastal finger on the Baltic Sea, giving it a golden opportunity to tap rich offshore wind resources. To no one’s surprise, it has passed on that. However, activity has been increased by other Baltic nations. That includes a new 975-MW wind farm for Germany. [CleanTechnica]

Offshore wind turbines (Screenshot courtesy of Siemens)

¶ “UK Cable Superhighway Receives £3.4 Billion Boost” • Ofgem gave provisional approval to a funding package for the proposed 2-GW high voltage Eastern Green Link 2 transmission line. The line is a subsea and underground 500 km (310 miles) electricity superhighway between Scotland and Yorkshire. Its funding will come to £3.4 billion. [reNews]

¶ “Nordex Secures 98-MW Swedish Order” • The Nordex Group has received an order from Holmen Energi AB for 98 MW in Sweden. In summer 2025, the Nordex Group will supply and install 14 N163/6.X turbines for the Blisterliden wind farm in a forested area in the county of Västerbotten in the northeastern part of Sweden. [reNews]

Wind turbine (Nordex image)

¶ “Indian Police Report UFOs Flying Over Nuclear Plants ‘Every Few Days’” • Senior law enforcement in India video-taped UFO sightings over nuclear plants last year, a news report revealed. One witness, a police sub-inspector, said he was ‘100% sure’ the object he taped, with its high-speed ‘zigzag movements,’ could not be explained by human tech. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Why Stumpy, DC’s Iconic Cherry Tree, Is Drawing So Much Attention” • A hallowed-out, small cherry tree in Washington, DC, is getting a major amount of attention ahead of its removal from the Tidal Basin because of climate change. Over the last century, sea levels in the Washington, DC, area have risen by over a foot, according to NOAA. [ABC News]

Cherry trees in salt water (Javier Robles, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “What Is The Cost Of Climate Pollution? Corporate Profits, That’s What” • The US SEC proposed a rule mandating that public companies report their greenhouse gas emissions. But corporations will do just about anything to hide the true cost of their climate pollution, and the lobbying pressure against full disclosures won out. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “$50 Million For Tribal Clean Energy Projects” • The US DOE said that under the Clean Energy Technology Deployment on Tribal Lands – 2024, the amount of funding available has been doubled, as it has increased from $25 million to $50 million. The DOE Office of Indian Energy is soliciting applications from Indian Tribes. [CleanTechnica]

USDA visit to Blackfeet Nation (USDAgov, public domain)

¶ “Ørsted’s Sunrise Wind Offshore Project Gains US Government Approval” • The Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management approved the 924-MW Sunrise Wind offshore wind farm. Its developers, Danish energy company Ørsted and utility provider Eversource, have also taken a final investment decision on the project. [Power Technology]

¶ “West Virginia Governor Vetoes Bill Expanding Renewable Energy To Protect Coal” • West Virginia Gov Jim Justice (R) vetoed a measure that would raise the allowable size for a solar plant operated by state utilities, citing concerns about its effects on the coal industry. The bill would have doubled the maximum size of utility solar plants to 100 MW. [The Hill]

Have a decidedly great day.

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